For International Stress Awareness Week (7th to 11th November), Barratt and David Wilson Homes Eastern Counties is encouraging open discussions about mental health in the workplace.
Three employees for the housebuilder have undergone training in mental health first aid, and are now the first port of call for colleagues who are experiencing issues with their mental wellbeing.
One of the Mental Health First Aiders based at the developer’s head office in Chelmsford, Susie Watts, is sharing her experiences to help spread awareness of the importance of mental health.
Susie, who works as a Senior Sales Administrator, said: “A few years ago I decided to pursue Mates in Mind training and I instantly knew I wanted to do more. As Barratt and David Wilson Homes offers a two-week mental health training opportunity for employees, I decided to pursue this and continue my training.
“The trainer was brilliant and my cohort all had different experiences and reasons for doing the training. Everyone had plenty to contribute and we covered a lot of difficult and emotional subjects in a very positive and supportive way.
“I have been lucky with my own mental health, but have people close to me who have not been so fortunate and have seen the devastating effects that suicide has on a family. If I am able to prevent one person from taking that irrevocable step, I will be happy, even if I don’t know I’ve done it.”
Susie’s training not only enabled her to learn how to promote positive mental health among colleagues, but also learn things about mental health that she wasn’t previously aware of.
Susie added: “I have learnt that you don’t have to understand what someone is experiencing to be able to help them, just listening to them and understanding that they are upset can help. We can’t always know what someone is going through, but we can see how that is making them feel.
“I think that talking is one of the most important things to do for mental health. So far, the people I have helped have all said how much better they have felt for talking. The more that people talk, the more everyone realises that they are highly unlikely to be the only person feeling what they are feeling. Post-pandemic times, I see this as even more important, as a lot of people are still processing a lot of emotions about the pandemic, from grief through to fear and anxiety.
“I have always been someone that people talk to, so I don’t see it as too different, I just feel better informed on how to manage that and confident to sign post people to more help if required.”
Promoting the importance of mental health in the workplace is a huge focus for the developer, as raising awareness and offering resources provides a step towards improved mental health for workers in the construction sector.
Susie said: “Statistics of poor mental health in construction are high and the more I learn, I see why. Men of a certain age put a lot of pressure on themselves – and sometimes others put it on them – to be the ultimate provider on many levels, the perfect partner, son, brother, uncle, dad or employee. In a construction environment, it is easy to carry on as though there is no problem or issue.”
According to the mental health charity Mind, one in four people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England; with one in six people reporting experiencing a common mental health problem, like anxiety and depression, in any given week.
Susie is encouraging people to consider mental health training to help support others around them.
She added: “I think it is a hugely important role and that there are a lot of people who would make great Mental Health First Aiders. I have been able to help people outside of my working role which really boosts my own mental health, it is incredibly satisfying to know that you have made someone feel better. I also think that there is a fantastic support network available if you have a particularly difficult call or interaction, but I hope that by talking to people early in the process means that there will be fewer people reaching crisis point.”
Tom Wright, Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Eastern Counties, said: “We are incredibly proud as the UK’s leading housebuilder to offer this mental health first aid training to our employees. Susie is a credit to the company for her enthusiasm and fantastic support to colleagues.
“Our employees and their mental health are of upmost importance to us and we couldn’t be happier to be leading the change in discussing mental health within construction.”
