UK Electrical (UKE), has launched an innovative Mental Health Support Scheme to provide comprehensive support for its employees.
Olivia Chadwick, UKE’s welfare officer, presented the new scheme to all of the UKE staff last week, highlighting the organisation’s dedication to the well-being of its team.
UKE’s position as a company supporter of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, which provides emotional, physical, and financial support for construction workers, is a testament to this commitment.
Lighthouse offers round-the-clock assistance, accessible via text, phone, app, or the ‘make it visible’ portal, ensuring that no worker has to face their worries alone. Employees are encouraged to reach out on any concern, such as drugs, drink, gambling, money worries, all in confidence.
Olivia Chadwick is on her way to becoming a certified mental health first aider and UKE is nurturing its own team of mental health champions who will receive training to understand common mental health issues, advocate for mental health awareness, recognise signs of distress, and cultivate skills to support positive well-being.
April will mark the beginning of the Wellbeing Academy, where UKE will provide mental health awareness courses to all employees, demonstrating the company’s culture of care.
Why this Scheme Matters
The construction industry is fraught with challenges that often go beyond physical safety. UKE’s scheme addresses a pressing reality:
- Mental health issues, including stress, anxiety, or depression, account for a fifth of all reported work-related illnesses in the construction industry.
- Perhaps the most sobering statistic is that every working day, two construction workers in the UK and Ireland take their own life.
With the Lighthouse Charity’s evidence-based programmes and UK Electrical’s forward-thinking initiatives, there is a beacon of hope that the tide will turn, fostering a healthier, safer, and more supportive construction industry for all.
UKE’s Mental Health Support Scheme is more than a programme – it’s a pledge to safeguard the well-being of those who build our world, ensuring no one is left to struggle in silence.
