#KindnessMatters
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 18-24 May, and aims to get people talking about their mental health and reduce the stigma that can stop people from asking for help.

The theme this year is ‘Kindness’.

Workers in our industry, at all levels, will be experiencing a whole range of emotions as they either return to work in offices and on site, continue to work from home, or stay off work on furlough.
We are pleased to see that the latest Government is encouraging a focus and awareness on the importance of mental health in it's latest guidance ‘Working safely during COVID-19 in construction and other outdoor work’.

So, to support your workers and join in with Mental Health Awareness Week, here are some things you could do:

Use toolbox talks to make your workers aware of mental health related issues and the support available. Emphasise ‘kindness’ and encourage them look out for one another and talk about how they are feeling (obviously observing social distancing during such talks). This briefing tool from Mates in Mind has been developed to support such conversations with your workers, with some useful guidance about how to get the conversation going and questions you can ask.
For workers at home and in offices, hold virtual meetings to bring people together to talk about mental health and encourage people to ask others/share how they are feeling. This Remote Working checklist has some great tips on looking after your teams in different locations.

In your communications, reassure your workers that their mental health and wellbeing is a priority for your businessand encourage them to talk if they are worried – make sure they know who they can talk to, and how.

Publicise the places people can go if they need professional support – Mates in Mind have compiled a ‘Confidential Support Services Fact Sheet’.
Access free training:
- Mattes in Mind and Tideway have teamed up to offer free online workshops on mental health for small businesses and the self-employed on Thursday 21 May - sign up here.
- In addition, Mates in Mind and The British Safety Council are offering free 45-minute ‘Start the Conversation’ Training Courses which you can access here
Access further resources on mental health and wellbeing:
- The Mental Health Foundation have created this supporter pack to help you get involved with Mental Health Awareness Week
- We, HCLG, have signposted to a wealth of relevant information on mental health and wellbeing from our website
Finally, don't forget to join the conversation next week on social media to help get the 'Kindness' message out - use the hashtags:
#KindnessMatters #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

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Working Safely during Coronavirus - 1 June

Up-to-date guidance and advice for construction employers available here