A number of members of staff have undergone training in mental health first aid and are now the first port of call for colleagues who are experiencing issues with their mental well-being.

One of the Barratt and David Wilson Homes Sheffield's mental health first aiders is HR Co-ordinator Gemma Armitage, who said: “Due to personal experience with looking after my own mental health, I found that I could spot signs of other people struggling. This was my main motivation to train as a mental health first aider.

“Talking about mental health is important for everyone, as opening up about whatever it is that's troubling you can have a ripple effect and encourage more to speak up.

“With Sheffield being a relatively new division, I have found it valuable to be visible to all employees and not just sit behind a desk. Coming from a HR background, I have always wanted to build relationships with all employees, letting them know I am always around for a chat and things will be confidential.

“With the construction industry being such a demanding, fast-paced environment, employees can put their mental health on the back burner, not realising the importance of a work life balance. Looking after mental health should be of paramount importance as I believe that if someone isn't in the right headspace they will make mistakes and not be able to work to their full potential.”

According to the mental health charity Mind, one in four people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England; with one in six reporting experiencing a common mental health problem, like anxiety and depression, in any given week.

The training was organised by Mental Health First Aid England for the developer's employees and the group undergoing the training was encouraged to share their own experiences of mental health struggles to aid their learning and understanding.

The construction industry is known for its focus on physical wellbeing with risk assessments and health and safety being a priority to ensure routines run smoothly. With the mental health first aid training offered to employees, Barratt and David Wilson Homes is leading the change to consider the mental health impacts of working within the construction industry and is making a conscious effort to support its employees in this way.

Gary Chambers, Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Sheffield, said: “We are incredibly proud as the UK's leading housebuilder to offer this mental health first aid training to our employees, and every member that has undertaken the training is a credit to the company.

“Our employees and their mental health are of upmost importance to us and we couldn't be happier to be leading the change in discussing mental health within construction.”

For information on how to receive support for mental health, visit the website at Mind.

To find out more about Barratt and David Wilson Homes and its nearby developments, visit Barratt Homes in South Yorkshire or David Wilson Homes in South Yorkshire.

-ENDS-

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. For further information about Barratt and David Wilson Homes please contact Adam Jeffs or Dan Cole on 0116 247 1777 or adamj@unsworthsugden.co.uk or daniel@unsworthsugden.co.uk
2. Barratt and David Wilson Homes are part of Barratt Developments PLC, a FTSE100 company
3. Barratt was awarded a maximum five star rating for the 15th consecutive year in the 2024 Home Builders Federation Customer Satisfaction Survey
4. Site managers working for Barratt Group won 96 awards for quality workmanship in the 2023 NHBC Pride in the Job Awards. Barratt has won more Pride in the Job awards than any other housebuilder for the last 19 years