Employing 355 men across its Building North division, GRAHAM ensures that team members have meaningful access to professional help across a range of areas.

The construction industry experiences a higher rate of mental health problems and suicide, with a 2020 ONS report finding the suicide rate among male construction workers was three times higher than the national average (29.1 per 100,000  vs a national average of 9.6 per 100,000).

Staff at GRAHAM have access to the firm’s dedicated Wellzone app, which features a library of support videos, podcasts and tools providing guidance on personal matters, ranging from finance to fitness, and how to seek professional advice on difficult situations including domestic abuse and grief.

Three members of the team have also completed Applied Suicide Prevention Skills Training (ASIST) and aid the mental wellbeing of their peers throughout the region. Over 30 GRAHAM staff have also been trained as mental health first aiders, equipped with the skills to spot the warning signs of poor mental health, provide initial assistance and help their colleagues access any professional advice they may need.

Working with Glasgow-based charity Men Matter, GRAHAM has also rolled out a programme of wellbeing workshops on live sites across Scotland and Northern Ireland and will soon extend those into York. As part of an ongoing partnership with Men Matter, staff at GRAHAM have also undertaken a sponsored 18km walk along the John Muir Way, which raised £1,200 for the charity.

Debbie Rutherford, head of social impact and support services at GRAHAM Building North, commented: “It is crucial that the construction industry works hard to enhance the support available for the mental health and wellbeing of our people —the most valuable asset of any business.

“I am incredibly proud that we foster an environment at GRAHAM where men are encouraged to look out for one another and seek help when needed. The feedback from those who have attended our Men Matter sessions has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the importance of our partnership with the charity.

“In fact, some participants have found the sessions so impactful that they’ve suggested making them mandatory for all GRAHAM employees. This kind of feedback inspires us to continue strengthening our internal support network, ensuring that everyone has access to the best possible resources, both on and off the construction site.”