Our employee wellbeing aligns with Mental Health Awareness Week aims

We are backing Mental Health Awareness Week, an annual initiative designed to tackle the stigma attached to matters of the mind and protect people’s wellbeing.

The programme, which is run by the Mental Health Foundation, takes place between May 15^th and 21^st. This year’s focus is on increasing awareness of anxiety whilst lobbying government to make improving mental health a key priority.

We have introduced a series of in-house initiatives to enshrine employees’ mental wellbeing. These include ‘Start the Conversation’ training in which all colleagues are encouraged to think and talk about good mental health. The company has also assigned mental health first aiders at each of its sites. Employees volunteering for the role have undergone mental health awareness courses to better assist their colleagues in seeking support for mental wellbeing issues.

Pen Le Kelly, Internal Communications and Engagement Manager at CPI, is also a member of the company’s Mental Health First Aid team. Explaining why the role was required, she said: “Mental health awareness is vital in the construction industry. Sometimes, we can all become so focused on what we are doing that we forget to look-up and make sure everyone is okay. Construction can have an image of people not being able to open up and talk, but I think that’s changing – the more we promote it as the norm to talk about how we feel, the better we will become at it.”

CPI’s commitment to supporting its employees’ mental wellbeing includes its Employee Assistance Programme. This excellent course ensures that all colleagues have free access to 24/7 services including counselling and support services.

Terry Smith, Plant Manager at CPI in Beaconsfield and one of the site’s Mental Health First Aiders said the voluntary role appealed after aspects of his work and home life changed. “Before becoming a Mental Health First Aider I was probably someone who rarely showed any type of emotion,” he said. “Neither was I someone that my staff felt they could come and talk to if they needed to. But this was something I wanted to change; I wanted them to see that I wasn’t the person they thought I was and that they could come to me with anything they needed to.”

In respect of encouraging others to volunteer as a Mental Health First Aider, Terry continued: “The role has changed my life for the better. It’s one of the most enjoyable courses I have been on. If we can help just one person in our lifetime then for me, it is worthwhile having the knowledge on how to do so.”