World Mental Health Day – Tuesday 10 October 2023

The theme for this is ‘Mental Health is a Universal Human Right’.

The aim is to enhance understanding, generate awareness, and encourage efforts that support and safeguard the mental health of every individual as a fundamental human right, as stated by the World Health Organisation.

World Mental Health Day is a day to raise awareness of mental health problems. More and more of us are aware of mental health. But there are still a lot of people who are not getting the correct support.

One in four people in the UK will have a mental health problem at some point. Mental health is about how we think, feel and behave. Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health problems. They are often a reaction to a difficult life event, such as bereavement, but can also be caused by work-related issues.

Having a mental health condition should never be a reason to deprive a person of their human rights or to exclude them from decisions about their own health. Yet, all over the world, people with mental health conditions continue to experience a wide range of human violations. Many are excluded from community life and discriminated against.

The objectives of Mental Health Day

• Raising awareness about various mental health conditions
• Combat stigma, dispel myths, and encourage people to seek help and advice
• Educate individuals about the methods to safeguard their mental well-being
• Promote inclusivity, and uphold the rights of individuals with mental health issues urging them to seek support

Whether work is causing the health issue or aggravating it, employers have a legal responsibility to help their employees.
Work-related mental health issues must be assessed to measure the levels of risk to staff. Where a risk is identified, steps must be taken to remove it or reduce it as far as reasonably practicable.

Some early signs in employees might be:

• mood swings/being withdrawn
• loss of motivation, commitment, and confidence
• increased emotional reactions – being more tearful, sensitive or aggressive
• increase in time off/being late for work
• more twitchy or nervous
• difficulty in making decisions
• talking more or talking very fast, jumping between topics and ideas
• irritability and short temper

What to do if a colleague is exhibiting signs from the ‘early signs’ list

• Ask if they are ‘ok’
• Ask if you can help with obtaining mental health assistance
• Encourage them to see the workplace mental health first aider, if available
• Encourage them to make a doctor’s appointment, help with this if they are open to the suggestion
• Encourage them to contact one of the helplines listed e.g.: Samaritans etc – help them find a safe space to do so, and encourage them to do this as a priority
• If you believe there to be an immediate crisis/suicide risk don’t be afraid to directly ask if they intend to attempt to take their own life – Mental Health England Research shows that asking this direct question can save lives
• If the person is in immediate danger, call 999

Charities for Construction Workers

• Mates in Mind – most well-known mental health app
• The lighthouse club
• Time to change

More general services

• Mind – Telephone support line 0300 304 7000 (16.30 -22.30 everyday)
• NHS / GP Services
• Samaritans