Highwood puts focus on mental wellbeing for Mental Health Awareness Week 2021

Mental Health Awareness Week begins today and presents a great opportunity for organisations to help change the way people think about mental health and to support colleagues facing their own mental health challenges.

Highwood is a committed proponent of workplace health and wellbeing and, due to the impact the pandemic is having on it this year, the organisation is playing an even more visible role in the quest to raise awareness of mental health.

Within the construction industry, which is a traditionally male-dominated sector, many men find it difficult to talk about the pressures they might be facing and are unsure how to ask for help. With a commitment to nurturing a workplace culture that is focussed on openness and providing specialist support and training for our teams, Highwood’s employees include several qualified mental health first aiders (MHFAs) who act as a first point of contact for those who need it. Indeed, more managers are due to undertake their MHFA training and qualification in the coming months.

Offering support and guidance to their colleagues and acting as advocates for workplace mental health, Highwood’s MHFAs are based on site and at its Head Office in Romsey. Their role is also to help reduce the stigma of mental health problems and to instigate positive change so that others at work can identify the symptoms and causes of issues and point them towards resources that can help.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 runs from today until 16^th May and is closely followed by Men’s Health Week 2021, which runs from 14^th to 20th June. In the lead up to these events, Highwood has held the first in a series of events designed to help men share their mental health experiences and challenges.

Delivered by The ManGang, a network of men who believe ‘it’s not weak to speak’, the initiative was founded by health and safety specialist, Andy Bishop, a plenary speaker for Mental Health First Aid (England) who regularly shares his story with organisations who want to offer practical support for their teams.

The first event was held at Highwood’s North Stoneham Park construction site and provided on-site teams with an opportunity to discuss their thoughts and feelings about mental health and the pressures some of them face. The turnout from the site teams was very impressive and Andy’s message resonated with many who took part. Further ManGang events will be held at different Highwood sites in the coming months to ensure all teams have the opportunity to attend.