July/August 2022

Contract The View Talk from Certass TA
Every working day in the UK, two construction
workers commit suicide. Just let that fact
sink in for a moment.
Not only is construction the number one industry for
suicides in the UK, but the same shocking statistic is
also true in Ireland, Australia and the USA.
This is, quite literally, a deadly serious issue and
it needs to be tackled now.
TIME TO ACT
Jon Vanstone, Chair of Certass Trade Association, discusses his work with the
Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity and explains why when it comes to mental
health issues, the time for action is now.
Recent research revealed that the mental health
of our workforce is in a bad way, with more
than 20 percent of work-related illnesses due
to stress, anxiety and depression. As ours is an
industry dominated by men, who notoriously
struggle to talk about their worries and feelings
for fear of being judged, we believe this number is
probably much higher.
Most of us have been told to ‘man up’ at some
point, and maybe we’ve even said it ourselves.
It may seem like a harmless phrase, but it can
reinforce the pressure that men come under to
conform to cultural expectations, such as being
providers and not showing weakness.
This is an incredibly serious problem. We are
becoming increasingly aware of the repercussions
of poor mental health but in order to tackle the
issue effectively, we need people to talk about it
and highlight the gravity of its nature, rather than
let those who are suffering do so in silence.
As a cross industry concern, it’s vital that we
keep enforcing the need for us to do more and
accept the simple fact that without collective
action, the numbers will only get worse.
I am proud to be the ambassador for the
Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, the only
one of its kind that provides emotional, physical
and financial wellbeing support to construction
workers and their families, helping those in need
when times are tough.
The charity was founded more than 65 years ago
by a group of gentlemen who had been attending
a Ministry of Public Buildings and Works
Exhibition on Tyneside.
Finding themselves on the seafront at Whitley Bay
and under the light of St Mary’s Lighthouse, they
vowed to extend the goodwill they enjoyed at the
show by starting something to unite and benefit
the entire industry.
From those humble beginnings, the impact of
the Lighthouse Club has grown significantly year
on year. In 2021, we helped more than 2,800
construction families and our aim is to double
that amount this year.
A crucial element of our strategy is to provide
a range of free and widely available proactive
resources to support the industry, including a
24/7 helpline for employers and employees as a
first point of contact for those who need to access
a variety of completely confidential services.
There’s also a free Construction Industry Helpline App
aimed at those who may not feel comfortable speaking
with someone or would like more information about
how they can help themselves before taking the next
step in seeking professional help.
We also offer a variety of free construction-focused
training programmes, ranging from hour-long
interactive wellbeing sessions through to the MHFA
England-approved Mental Health First Aider course.
The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity
receives no public funding and relies entirely on
the generosity of those within the industry to help
us continue our vital work.
Every penny raised means we can do more, so
any businesses with funds to spare, please look at
donating to our cause or organising a Lighthouse
fundraising event. You can find more information
here: www.lighthouseclub.org/support-us/
Our goal is to break the stigma of talking about
mental health and for everyone to know that there
is always hope, safety and support.
Remember, every working day in the UK, two
construction workers commit suicide. Now is the
time to act.
Jon Vanstone spoke about the importance
of mental health and how we need to do
more at the FIT Show in May
Contact Certass Trade Association:
01292 292 095
certassta.co.uk
@CertassTa
36 T I JULY/AUGUST 2022 PRACTICAL CONTENT FOR THE GLAZING INSTALLER & HOME IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST