CITB NI has launched a series of mental health and wellbeing training courses aimed at helping employers to think about how they can create work environments that minimise stress and support employees who are struggling.
With over a third of construction workers reporting that they have experienced a condition in the past year, mental health is a significant and ongoing issue within the industry.
Delivered by Inspire Workplaces, the training courses have been designed to support individuals at all levels of the construction workforce working within the NI construction industry. Course content includes recognising mental health symptoms, effective ways to help staff, early warning signs, coping strategies and how to seek help.
As part of their commitment to supporting their own staff, CITB NI has created a workplace health and wellbeing committee. Their role includes creating and implementing activities that helps employees be aware of the support available for their own wellbeing as well as others.
Barry Neilson, CITB NI Chief Executive, said: “Mental health wellbeing is a key priority for CITB NI both internally for our staff and for supporting our employers. We are very aware of the difficulties and challenges facing the construction industry and we are committed to working within our partnership networks to ensure that we do everything we can to help, support and guide our industry by providing access to high quality training that will help make a difference to employers, employees and the workplace.”
Gavin Megaw from Inspire Workplaces, added: “ We will be working in partnership with CITB NI to deliver a series of mental health and wellbeing courses aimed at helping employers in the construction sector to put in place the necessary systems that will support the mental health and wellbeing of their employees.”
The CITB NI mental health and wellbeing courses are free to CITB NI employers, and the first phase will run online from June – August 2021. For further information including course dates and booking details visit www.citbni.org.uk, or e-mail gayle.beckett@citbni.org.uk. Follow CITB NI on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
