Prioritising mental health in construction

At Sir Robert McAlpine, we are championing mental health awareness and support among our workforce with a simple yet impactful initiative.

Recognising the alarming statistics surrounding mental health in the construction sector, where the suicide rate is three times the national average for male workers, we have taken proactive steps to address this crisis head-on.

At the forefront of our efforts are our Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA). Trained to listen, reassure, and respond to individuals in need, our MHFA serve as beacons of support across our office, site, and home-based locations. To make their presence known, our dedicated individuals proudly display stickers on their hard hats, signalling to colleagues that help is readily available.

Our commitment to mental health is paramount and we are proud to wear our hearts on our hard hats. We believe that everyone deserves to feel supported, especially in environments as demanding as construction.
Yvanna Godwin Company Lead for Mental Health

Our dedication to mental health extends beyond immediate crisis intervention. With a network of over 170 MHFA and the establishment of a wellbeing strategy through the BuildSure group, we are committed to promoting a culture of wellbeing for all our people. This approach aims not only to provide immediate support but also to promote long-term resilience and mental wellness.

We hope, with every hard hat sticker and every trained MHFA, we’re able to reaffirm our commitment to building a safer, healthier future for all.

Proactive approach

We are also proud to be involved in research in proactive steps that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of people experiencing poor mental health.

This work is being done with Mates in Mind, the University of Warwick and the Tier 1 H&S Leadership Group (made up from H&S Directors for the major Tier 1 construction companies) and is supported by the HSE and the Construction Leadership Council.

Whilst there is more research to be done, we are hoping to be able to share more on the output of this work shortly.

Latest news

Supporting the National Theatre’s 50th anniversary
10 Aug 2026

The iconic theatre on London's South Bank was completed by us in 1976 and a free public installation is opening in October 2026 to commemorate its 50th anniversary

Read more about
Tolworth’s Tala Building progress delights stakeholders
04 Aug 2026

Local politicians were among those who joined tours of the new mental health facilities set to open in 2028

Read more about
HS2 signs new civil engineering deals
03 Aug 2026

HS2 Ltd has successfully renegotiated contracts with two of the civil engineering joint-ventures building Britain’s new high-speed railway as part of the programme reset.    

Read more about