Leaders of Debar have committed to prioritising mental health in the workplace by partnering with the suicide prevention charity, Andy’s Man Club. Statistics highlight that suicides within the construction industry are more than three times the national average.
As well as inviting representatives of Andy’s Man Club to visit the bi-fold hardware manufacturer’s headquarters in Bradford, to meet with the team and deliver bespoke training sessions, Debar’s leaders have also donated £1,000 to the national charity. “It’s shocking to learn that so many people working within the construction industry experience mental ill health, so we want to do what we can to reassure our team that support is available whenever they need it,” said Rachel Mortimer, Debar’s HR manager.
“Ultimately, the mental health of our staff is a number one priority. We hope that by adding provisions in our workplace we’ll be helping to beat the negative stigma surrounding mental health.
“We’ve chosen to partner with Andy’s Man Club for this initiative because we believe the work they do across the country is incredible. Not only do we want to continue working closely with their team but we also want to donate to this amazing cause when we can.”
Following on from the sessions that Andy’s Man Club has delivered, the Debar team has trained a selection of its own staff to become mental health first aiders. The intention is for specific team members to have the knowledge and skills to identify people experiencing poor mental health and to have the confidence to start conversations that can lead to signposting to additional support.
“Prioritising mental health in the workplace is incredibly important to us,” added Rachel. “Introducing our own mental health first aiders seemed like the natural next step on this journey.
“We believe much more could be done within the construction industry to break down the perception of mental health. This is part of the reason why we want to do what we can to support our team. We want them to feel confident that if ever they needed assistance, reassurance or wanted to talk. they know who to approach.”
To find out more information about Debar, visit the company’s website.
