Advocacy Across Boundaries: Co-creating a framework to improve mental health in construction

Working across sectors to foster a community focused on connected policies and collaborative practices to improve mental health and wellbeing in the construction industry

The construction industry is a major employer in the UK, supporting 2.1 million workers and contributing 6% to the GDP. Yet, it faces a significant mental health crisis, with suicide rates 3.7x the national average. Addressing this issue is crucial for sustainable development, as workers endure pressures like tight schedules and financial instability, often leading to a reluctance to discuss mental health.

In a collaboration between the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction (BSSC) and UCL Division of Psychiatry, a half-day roundtable event was held on 2 July 2024. The event brought together 25 professionals from different sectors of construction and 11 researchers from numerous disciplines and different universities. There was a mix of research presentations, panel discussions and roundtable workshops on various topics of mental health and wellbeing in construction. The panel consisted of 6 experts: 

• Ruth Pott, Head of Workplace Wellbeing, BAM UK and Ireland
• Jim Senior, CMIOSH, Health, Safety and Environmental Consultant
• Dr Susanna Bennett, Research Follow, Suicidal Behaviour Research Lab, University of Glasgow
• Professor Billy Hare, Professor of Construction Management, Glasgow Caledonian University
• Maisie Jenkins, PhD researcher at the University of Edinburgh and Research Manager at the Wellcome Trust
• Emeritus Professor Hedley Smyth, University College London

The conversation explored several questions, and further detail can be found in the event summary report:

1. What are the specific challenges of managing mental health and wellbeing in the construction industry?
2. What are the opportunities for addressing the mental health and wellbeing issues in construction?
3. How to transcend the boundaries between professional disciplines and organisations for a more integrated approach to mental health and wellbeing in construction?

The project aimed to foster a community focused on connected policies and collaborative practices by engaging UCL researchers and industry leaders, culminating in a cross-disciplinary symposium to identify challenges and co-create solutions for systemic change.