Total Contractor

Health & Wellbeing
THE 3 RS: MIND HOW YOU GO...
Total Contractor takes a look at how Willmott Dixon has been tackling ‘mental fitness’ on its
construction sites through its All Safe Minds initiative.
Willmott Dixon has a long and wellestablished
track record for
safeguarding the physical health of its
employees across the nation’s construction sites.
But as a result of some unsettling figures that
have emerged from the industry over recent
years, they are now also leading the way in
raising awareness of the mental health issues
affecting the sector.
2017 saw the launch of All Safe Minds – a
campaign to encourage mental fitness across the
UK construction sector, particularly amongst
young men who historically have found it difficult
to talk about their problems.
Recent studies commissioned by Public Health
England (PHE) found that certain groups of male
construction workers were at greatest risk of
suicide, with figures at a staggering 3.7 times
above the national average.
As one of the UK’s largest contractors, Willmott
Dixon forged ahead with the All Safe Minds
campaign to ensure that everyone working on its
many project sites across the UK is fully aware of
the support network available.
All Safe Minds aims to instil a 3-step process –
the Three Rs – into daily work culture,
encouraging all employees to:
1. RECOGNISE. Be aware if you or someone you
know is struggling to cope.
2. REACH OUT. Start the conversation. If you are
struggling, talk to someone you trust. Or if you
know a colleague is struggling, offer your support
– simply lending an ear can make all the
difference.
3. REBUILD. Use the resources available to you
to start taking back control.
The All Safe Minds infographic
As part of the All Safe Minds campaign, a hardhitting
infographic has been released, laying bare
some frightening statistics.
Mark French, Head of Health, Safety and
Environment for Willmott Dixon Group, explained:
“Although the way we deal with mental health in
the workplace is improving fast, our industry still
presents some of the most upsetting statistics.
The figures make uncomfortable reading, but we
need to break the taboo and start talking about
how serious this problem is. The infographic
immediately caught the attention of the UK trade
media, who helped it reach hundreds of
thousands of construction personnel within just a
few days of its release.”
As a direct result of the infographic, Mark was
invited to appear on a ground breaking 24-hour
non-stop broadcast for mental health hosted by
Radio City in Liverpool. The major event took
place on Monday 15th January, aka Blue Monday,
and featured contributions from many of the
region’s most respected healthcare professionals.
Mental Health First Aiders
To support the public face of All Safe Minds,
Willmott Dixon is working tirelessly behind the
scenes to increase the routes to support. All
operatives across project sites nationwide receive
an introductory presentation on mental health in
which they are made aware of the help available.
In addition, hundreds of Mental Health First Aiders
(MHFAs) are being trained and deployed to site. The
MHFAs will provide a network of support across the
entire organisation, encouraging employees and
colleagues to seek help if they have existing
problems or realise that they’re starting to struggle.
Every site office will clearly display a new
campaign poster raising awareness of the MHFAs
and making it easy for personnel to contact their
local first aider quickly and discreetly if needed.
All Safe Minds Z-Cards
The latest addition to the campaign is a new Z-
Card, which is issued to everyone attending the
initial mental health session. The discreet
business-card sized aide has been designed to fit
easily into a pocket or wallet, offering a subtle
source of reference, which can be accessed easily
if the need arises. Hundreds of Z-Cards have
already been issued, with thousands more ready
to be handed out over coming months.
Mark French concluded: “Our long-term aim is
for All Safe Minds to become a natural mind-set
for men to seek help if they become overwhelmed
by their personal situation. The Z-Card will be
handed out across our business both internally
and externally. The logo and ethos are already
commonplace across Willmott Dixon sites and
throughout 2018 we will continue to roll the
campaign out to a wider construction audience
until All Safe Minds becomes engrained into our
everyday culture.”
Contact Willmott Dixon
01462 671852
www.willmottdixon.co.uk
#AllSafeMinds
58 TC MARCH 2018