A recent report (March 2022) from Mental Health Foundation and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) estimated that poor mental health costs the UK economy at least £117.9 billion annually. Low productivity accounts for around 70% of this cost which the authors stress is an underestimate of the real impact; this figure does not even begin to capture the impact on individuals, their families and work colleagues across all aspects of their lives.

We also know that the construction sector is amongst the hardest hit when it comes to poor mental health; workers in the construction sector are three times more likely to die by suicide than the national average for men (Mates in Mind Feb 2022). As a sub-set of the sector, quarrying is not immune.

However, the research conclusively shows that taking a preventative approach makes a difference. The CIPD suggest that the return on investment can be up to £9 for every £1 spent. But where to start and how can we learn from each other and share good practice in order to support the sector?

In this four part series of bite-size webinars we aim to start a conversation, to share good practice and to provide some knowledge and tools that you can use in your workplace and to support your own wellbeing.

Webinar 1: Workplace mental health and wellbeing: What is it and who does it? Tuesday 30th May 12:00-12:30
Employers have a duty of care to do all that they reasonably can to support employee’s health, safety and wellbeing (HSE). Whilst assessing health and safety risks is familiar territory, assessing the risks of poor wellbeing can be a little more tricky. Whilst the business case for preventative action is clear, what does this mean in practice? In this session we will:
Identify potential barriers that can stop businesses taking action and how to overcome them
Put the case for a shared responsibility for wellbeing: the business and the individual
Share good practice – so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel!

Webinar 2: Stress: The gateway to poor mental health? Tuesday 13th June 12:00-12:30
Stress impacts everyone and, in short doses, can be positive and motivating. However, chronic stress can lead to mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety and can have a significant impact on individuals and their workplace. Fatigue, irritability, confused thoughts, low productivity and struggling to focus are just some of the signs. So, what can you do to manage stress if you spot the signs in yourself or colleagues? What are the consequences for your business if these signs go un-checked and colleagues go unsupported? In this session we will explore the answers to these questions, leaving you with some useful tools and techniques.

Webinar 3: Resilience: What is it and how do you get it? Tuesday 27th June 12:00-12:30

What’s the difference between people with resilience and those without? It’s not about being immune to challenges and stressors but rather it’s the ability to feel the challenge but not be toppled over by it. The good news? Resilience is something we can learn. In this session we will explore some ideas for growing resilience and how you can support colleagues to do the same. The result? Resilient employees, teams and businesses.

Webinar 4: Understanding signposting, Tuesday 4th July 12:00-12:30

We’ve all been there, haven’t we? A colleague or friend comes to us for help and we feel an immense pressure to have the answers! We want to help them and to make them feel better. It’s human nature. So, what do we do? We go into full on ‘problem-solving’ mode. We perhaps find ourselves feeling responsible which makes us anxious. Perhaps they become dependant on us and we don’t want to let them down. This situation is made worse if we don’t know where to get help. So, in this session we will explore just that: what are the sources of support you can use? What knowledge and information can you have in your toolbox to help colleagues move forwards? How can you manage your boundaries to ensure you’re wellbeing is also looked after?