CIBSE Patrons, the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), Electrical Contractors’ Association and the Samaritans are co-hosting this seminar on 21 July.

It has been set up in response to growing evidence of mental health problems among building services workers caused by an increasingly stressful working environment.

BESA chief executive Paul McLaughlin, who will chair the seminar, said 80% of engineering services firms believe that workplace mental health will have a serious impact on their business over the next five to 10 years, according to a survey carried out by BESA and the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA).

“However, almost 3 in 10 respondents (31%) admitted that they found on-site mental health hard to manage,” added Mr McLaughlin. “We have made massive strides forward as an industry on safety issues in the past 20 years, but on health (and mental health in particular) we still have a long way to go.”

The Samaritans have offered to provide training and counselling strategies specific to the building services sector. They point out that the vast majority of calls they receive are from people who just need a ‘sounding board’.
“Around 80% of callers are not suicidal – they just need someone to talk to. And that is the first step towards addressing the pressures modern life places on us,” said Mr McLaughlin.

This interactive seminar will explore some of the issues around mental health problems and help companies develop strategies both to prevent and to deal with any issues amongst their workforce.

The afternoon will conclude with refreshments and the opportunity to network with speakers and attendees.

Workplace Mental Health - a CIBSE Patrons / BESA / ECA seminar