NEW research has revealed 94% of professionals working in the ‘hard hat’ industries have reported major challenges with their mental health.
The findings were revealed by hydraulic hose replacement specialist Pirtek UK & Ireland. The research, which aims to shine a light on the scale of the mental health challenges facing all heavy industries from a worker perspective, found that 75% of respondents reported feelings of stress, whilst anxiety (62%), depression (43%) and loneliness (41%) were all commonly cited as major challenges.
For every 100 workers, 14 have cited feelings of self-harm or suicide.
Martyn Smart, group QHSE manager at Pirtek UK & Ireland, said, “It’s incredibly worrying that so many of our survey respondents have reported challenges with their mental health. Professionals who work in these sectors face many hazards in their day-to-day duties, but it’s important to remember that mental health risks in the workplace must also be assessed to correctly measure the level of risk to workers.”
Pirtek found that one quarter of survey respondents would never discuss their mental health with their colleagues and three out of ten (28.9%) have spoken about their mental health with their peers but have felt uncomfortable in doing so.
Similarly, just 59% of respondents stated their workplace had mental health support in place, whilst four out of ten workers reported there was no support in place, or they were not aware of it. Only 35% of respondents have utilised external professional services to support their mental health.
Adam Burrows, MD, Pirtek UK & Ireland commented, “It’s believed that one in every two people will develop a mental health disorder in their lifetime. Despite the growth in awareness towards mental health in recent years, our research has found that there is still much more work to be done. It’s vital that we continue to drive awareness and ensure the correct support is in place for every individual to access, should they need to.”
Lucas Whitehead, head of marketing & partnerships at Andy’s Man Club, charity partner for Pirtek’s Under the Hard Hat, said, “The results from Pirtek’s research highlights the scale of the mental health problem in heavy industries. Mental health does not just impact the individual in question, it can have a profound impact on an individual’s friends, family, coworkers and colleagues. Mental health challenges are indiscriminate, targeting everyone regardless of their chosen gender, race or creed.
“If we are to cultivate a culture where open discussions about mental health can be had, free from any judgement or stigma, it’s vital that we all work together. We need to ensure that those struggling are not alone and there is support available should they need it. We have an opportunity to make real and lasting change for the many people working in the hard hat industries, it’s important that we are all in it together.”
To find out more about Under the Hard Hat, visit here.
To find out more about Andy’s Man Club and the services it offers, visit here.
