Like many businesses, GRM embraced Mental Health Awareness Week and ran a range of initiatives and activities to encourage openness and discussion in the workplace.
However, we wanted to wait until the week had finished before sharing our story, as we believe conversations around mental health in the workplace should continue throughout the year.
While awareness weeks provide an important opportunity to highlight mental health and wellbeing, ongoing support and regular communication are equally important. Statistics continue to show that many people who need support can often struggle in silence and may find it difficult to open up to colleagues or management.
In our sector, construction, there can still be additional stigma attached to mental health. Back in 2020, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) published a report on mental health in the built environment based on a survey of 2,081 construction industry workers. The responses were striking, including 26% stating they had experienced suicidal thoughts and only 56% saying their business had a policy in place for mental health. Last year, the CIOB released an update to this report which continued to highlight the challenges our sector faces in relation to workplace mental health, including ONS data showing that male construction workers are three times more likely to die by suicide compared to those working in other industries:
Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025
Several years ago, the Directors at GRM recognised the importance of putting robust support systems in place to help employees facing mental health challenges. These initiatives have continued to expand and evolve and now include:
- Four trained and certified Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA). This started with one lead person several years ago, but a target was set to grow to one MHFA for every ten employees. This has now been achieved with representation across all areas of the business.
- Provision of an external 24-hour helpline provided by BUPA, whose qualified counsellors support both work and non-work-related areas including relationship worries, bereavement, stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Regular communication to all employees encouraging anyone who is struggling to reach out to the MHFA team or other available services.
As well as encouraging everyone to wear something green last Friday as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, the team ran a range of fun activities to raise money for the charity and encourage openness and discussion – both of which remain an integral part of GRM’s ongoing commitment to staff wellbeing.
