INSTALLERSUPPORT
You Are
Not Alone:
Three in Five Tradespeople
Say Pandemic Has
Negatively Impacted
Their Mental Health
» NEW RESEARCH FROM HOME
improvement and repair service, Local Heroes,
has today revealed that three in five (60 per
cent) skilled tradespeople across the nation feel
the COVID-19 outbreak has caused a negative
effect on their mental health.
To mark the beginning of Mental Health
Awareness Week (18-24 May 2020), the
findings have uncovered that worries about the
health of loved ones (52 per cent), financial
concerns (51 percent), redundancy fears (41
per cent) and social-distancing (40 per cent)
due to the pandemic are affecting British trade
workers emotional wellbeing during these
unparalleled times.
According to the findings of Local Heroes’
Mental Health Study, which surveyed 500
tradesmen and women across the country,
seven in 10 (70 per cent) report experiencing
mental health issues, specifying stress (44 per
cent), feeling low (37 per cent), anxiety (35
per cent) and depression (28 per cent). Almost
half (48 per cent) of the skilled workers
surveyed who have experienced a mental
health concern have sought support, including
taking prescribed medication (29 per cent),
counselling (12 per cent) and therapy (10 per
cent).
Delving into the connection between
poor mental health and work life within the
industry, the insights have uncovered that
four in five (79 per cent) trade workers feel
their job has adversely affected their emotional
wellbeing, with a further 91 per cent saying
they find day-to-day work stressful all the
time.
Younger trade workers reportedly feel
their trade worsens their emotional state the
most, with 86 per cent of 18 to 34-year olds
stating this compared to 65% of over 55s. The
findings revealed exhaustion from long hours
(36 per cent), pressure from their company
(31 per cent) and income (30 per cent) are the
leading reasons that tradespeople, including
plumbers, electricians and plasterers,
experience poor mental stability due to
work.
While over half (52%) of tradesmen and
women feel comfortable discussing their
mental health with their partner, the survey
has discovered that three in five (60 per cent)
feel there is still a social stigma around openly
discussing mental wellbeing and over a third
(34 per cent) feel uncomfortable opening up
to their colleagues in the workplace when
feeling stressed or down.
Aiming to uncover attitudes towards mental
health within the tradespeople industry, the
overriding insight which has emerged from
the research is that almost half (45 per cent)
of tradespeople feel that there is not enough
mental health awareness and support within
their industry.
“Attitudes towards mental health have
changed over the past few years but
unfortunately the pandemic has proved
there’s still much work to do”, says Camilla
Benitz, Head of Local Heroes. “We’re proud
to work with Mental Health UK to further
that conversation and provide any help we
can to anyone who is struggling during this
particularly difficult time.”
Teaming up with Mental Health UK, Local
Heroes has launched an online Mental Health
Awareness Guide for tradespeople, to help
improve understanding and highlight where to
seek support, including expert advice, tips and
sharing people’s experiences.
“The findings from the Local Heroes
survey, that the mental health of up to 60% of
tradespeople has been negatively impacted by
the COVID 19 pandemic, is both worrying
but unfortunately not surprising”, commented
Sarah Murphy, Associate Director for Advice,
Information, and Training at Mental Health
UK. “At this unprecedented time, concerns
about your own health, and that of your
families are bound to be causing stress, and
this is exacerbated by loss of income also
causing money worries. That is why we are
delighted to be working with Local Heroes to
ensure all tradespeople, and their families can
improve their understanding of mental health,
know how to spot the signs within themselves,
their colleagues and family members, and,
importantly, to know where to see help and
support, both for their mental and financial
health.”
*Local Heroes will be donating 10 per cent
of booked job costs to Mental Health UK
throughout May. To support Mental Health
UK when booking a Local Heroes job, add the
code MENTALHEALTHUK at checkout to
apply the discount.
www.mentalhealth-uk.org
78 » SEP 2020 » CLEARVIEW-UK.COM