16 | AUGUST 2020
News
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
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.”
‘
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
’
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