Recognising Access to Services This World Mental Health Day

As we approach World Mental Health Day on Friday 10th October 2025, the construction industry is continuing to grow its focus and support for mental health. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recently expanded the Working Minds campaign, also coinciding with Mental Health Awareness Week (12th–18th May). The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has also published a brand new consultation on its mental health project that follows from its Health Safety and Wellbeing Summit on 1st July which set out mental health as one of its priority focus areas.

HSE launches new content for the Working Minds campaign

HSE has launched a free online learning module to help employers get to grips with risk assessment of work-related stress. With around half of all work-related ill health attributed to stress, depression and anxiety, the new module provides step-by-step guidance for employers on conducting effective risk assessments, identifying root causes of work-related stress, and implementing solutions that have a real impact. 

Kayleigh Roberts from HSE’s Engagement and Policy Division said: “Preventing work-related stress isn’t just the right thing to do for your workers – it’s also a legal requirement. Our new online learning module aims to make it easier for businesses, particularly small to medium organisations to understand their obligations and what they need to do on a practical level. 

“This isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about embedding good practices into everyday business operations. By taking a proactive approach, employers can improve productivity, reduce sickness absence, and retain their valued workers. The module provides all the practical templates, tools and resources needed to get started or to review existing practices.” 

In addition, the Working Minds website platform has now been refreshed. Same URL, new content > Working Minds – Work Right. The pages are designed to be much simpler and to hone in on key messaging and tools. HSE is working on the next phase to re-introduce news and blogs.

HSE highlights six main areas that can lead to work-related stress if not managed properly: demands, control, support, relationships, role, and change. 

Businesses are encouraged to implement the Working Minds campaign 5Rs approach to support the risk assessment process: 

1. Reach out and have conversations 
2. Recognise the signs and causes of stress 
3. Respond to risks by agreeing action points 
4. Reflect on the actions taken 
5. Make it Routine to check in regularly 

Employers can register for the online learning module to access step-by-step advice, practical tools, and downloadable templates. 

Visit the Working Minds campaign website for more information about the Working Minds campaign and to download materials.

CLC publishes new consultation on mental health

In another step forward, CLC held a series of focus groups across England, in partnership with Mates in Mind and the University of Warwick, to identify the primary root causes for poor mental health in construction. The resulting consultation, open until 5th November 2025, details those causes and invites stakeholders across the industry for their views on what can be done to eliminate or reduce them.

The new consultation focuses on the measures that the UK construction industry can take to reduce the future likelihood of poor mental health in the sector. The CLC wants to hear your views and ambitions for how we can collectively come together to reduce or eliminate the challenges colleagues and friends are experiencing across the sector. Change is needed.

The CLC will then analyse the consultation results, before agreeing and publishing, in Spring 2026, an action plan with supporting guidance with industry leaders, and key stakeholders on what we can jointly do to address the root causes.

Click here to complete the consultation.

For more information, visit: www.constructionleadershipcouncil.co.uk/