With Mental Health Awareness Week due to take place on May 18-24, 2020, Local Heroes has revealed that 60% of British tradespeople feel the coronavirus pandemic has negatively affected their mental health.
New research from the home improvement and repair service has revealed that three in five (60%) skilled tradespeople across the nation feel that the COVID-19 outbreak has caused a negative effect on their mental health.
Ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week, the findings have uncovered that worries about the health of loved ones (52%), financial concerns (51%), redundancy fears (41%) and social-distancing (40%), due to the pandemic are affecting British trade workers’ emotional wellbeing.
According to the findings of Local Heroes’ Mental Health Study, which surveyed 500 tradespeople across the country, seven in 10 (70%) have reported experiencing mental health issues, specifying stress (44%), feeling low (37%), anxiety (35%) and depression (28%).
Almost half (48%) of the skilled workers surveyed who have experienced a mental health concern have sought support, including taking prescribed medication (29%), counselling (12%) and therapy (10%).
Emotional wellbeing
Delving into the connection between poor mental health and work life within the industry, the insights have uncovered that four in five (79%) trade workers feel their job has adversely affected their emotional wellbeing, with a further 91% 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% of 18 to 34-year-olds stating this compared to 65% of over 55s. The findings revealed exhaustion from long hours (36%), pressure from their company (31%), and income (30%) are the leading reasons that tradespeople experience poor mental stability due to work.
While over half (52%) of tradespeople feel comfortable discussing their mental health with their partner, the survey has discovered that three in five (60%) feel there is still a social stigma around openly discussing mental wellbeing and over a third (34%) 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%) of tradespeople feel that there is not enough mental health awareness and support within their industry.
Camilla Benitz, head of Local Heroes, said: “Attitudes towards mental health have changed over the past few years, but unfortunately the pandemic has proved there’s still much work to do.
“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,” said 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.”
For further insights from the Local Heroes Mental Health Study and information around expert advice and tips, visit the Local Heroes blog here.
For further information on Mental Health UK and for tips, guides and resources, visit www.mentalhealth-uk.org.
