SEH French sponsors “eye-opening” mental health in construction event

SEH French has displayed its commitment to supporting and raising awareness of mental health in construction. 

The company was one of four sponsors of an event hosted by Orwell Housing and the Ipswich Town Community Foundation. It took place on 8^th November 2022 at Ipswich Town Football Club. 

In addition to sponsoring the event, 13 SEH French team members attended to learn more about mental health in construction. The company brought mainly site-based staff along to raise awareness and to encourage them to talk about their mental health. 

Research from the Lighthouse Club shows stress, anxiety and depression make up 27% of all work-related illnesses in construction. Health and safety is paramount for the industry, and mental health is part of that. So, it is vital employers strive to remove the stigma around it and create a safe space for their teams. 

The event featured brave and inspirational speakers who provided an eye-opening insight into their lived experiences. It included talks from former ITFC players Jason Dozzell and Simon Milton, the CEO of Suffolk Mind, Jon Neal, and members of ITFC’s Talk Club. 

Simon Girling, Director of SEH French, said: “This was a fantastic event which we were proud to be a part of. 

“Mental health in construction is a matter we shouldn’t shy away from, and events like this help highlight its importance. 

“Thank you to Orwell Housing and the Ipswich Town Community Foundation for the opportunity to offer our support and attend. We’d also like to thank the speakers for sharing their stories.” 

Improving mental health in construction and creating a supportive culture is a priority for SEH French. Therefore, all director and managers have attended training courses to raises awareness of mental health in the office and onsite. As a result, teams have been much more open to talking about their challenges. Also, senior staff are better equipped to recognise when people in the team are struggling. 

In 2021, Simon Girling called for the industry to “swap swagger for sympathy” to support mental health. Read more about it here. 

If you are struggling with your mental health, or are an employer looking for training, visit Suffolk Mind’s website.