Scaffolding and mental health: spotting the signs and breaking the stigma

Mental health is no longer a peripheral issue in the construction sector. It is a core safety and wellbeing concern and one that the scaffolding industry cannot afford to ignore.

That was the clear message from a recent NASC webinar, Mental Health in High Places: Spotting the Signs, which brought together industry leaders and mental health specialists to shine a light on a subject that is still too often hidden behind bravado, long hours and a culture of just getting on with it.

Scaffolding is demanding work. Tight deadlines, physically taxing conditions, working at height, time away from family and unpredictable weather all combine to place sustained pressure on workers. Polling of attendees during the webinar highlighted the scale of the challenge: nearly three quarters said they or a colleague had experienced mental health difficulties, while only just over half felt help was easily accessible.

Guest speaker Ian Hines, a former scaffolder who became a mental health professional working with the Lighthouse Construction Charity, spoke candidly about his own journey through addiction, imprisonment and post-traumatic stress disorder. His message was direct: stigma is one of the biggest killers in construction. When people feel unable to speak openly about how they are feeling, problems compound until they reach crisis point.

Hines stressed that having suicidal thoughts does not mean someone is broken or beyond help. What matters is creating space for honest conversations and knowing where to turn. He also made the point that you do not need to have the answers. Your role is not to fix someone, but to listen, show concern and signpost them to professional support.

Warning signs to watch for include:

• Sustained low mood or emotional withdrawal.
• Loss of confidence or self-esteem.
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
• Changes in sleep or eating habits.
• Chronic fatigue and pessimistic views of the future.
• The message from the webinar was that multiple signs persisting for more than a couple of weeks should prompt concern and action.

The Lighthouse Charity was highlighted throughout the session as a vital resource for the industry. Its services span emotional, physical and financial wellbeing and include a 24-hour helpline, text-based support, counselling, financial assistance and an app that prompts users to check in with themselves daily. Support is available not just to workers but to their families too.

The scaffolding industry has made progress. But as the webinar made clear, there is more to do. No one in the industry should suffer in silence.

Find out more about the Lighthouse Charity at lighthousecharity.org and read NASC's SG38 Guidance on Mental Health Wellbeing on the NASC website.