David's story
We talked to MHFAider® David, an assistant site manager for construction company Bellway who shares his journey through personal mental health challenges in the workplace and highlights the importance of seeking help and the critical role of mental health support in professional settings.
"I suffered with my own mental health years back and at first, I was a “tough builder” and felt I didn’t need any outside help especially with mental health. I thought it would all just get better on its own, and obviously it didn’t. I reached a crisis point and reached out and found help. This turned out to be revolutionary and life changing."
Following this, David completed the Mental Health First Aid course and the MHFA Refresher. He was motivated by a desire to help others in his field. Despite the challenges, he aimed to address the stigma and misunderstandings surrounding mental health in the construction industry.
"The most enjoyable part was finding more people in my industry who were passionate about mental health and could see how important it was and wanting to do something about it. It was also interesting to see how many people it was affecting on a day-to-day basis."
David uses the skills he gained from MHFA® training regularly, helping him to better engage with his colleagues.
"In my day to day most of the people I speak with are fairly guarded but the ones who do open up and talk to you will let you in on bits and pieces and the skills we learn have helped me latch onto or notice those more. I can ask more questions without probing too much. I think the day-to-day talks and advice is really helpful."
David is an advocate for MHFA training because he believes that increased awareness can significantly reduce workplace stigma and enhance overall wellbeing.
"Absolutely it would, even just to make more people aware of mental health issues and take away a lot of the stigma from it."
In his daily life, David remains committed to his own mental health by implementing techniques such as mindfulness whilst also making a conscious effort to ensure his work does not interfere with his family life.
"I am more mindful of my mood, if I am down or stressed. Sometimes depression will come on in a wave and I can almost physically feel it come over me, but mindfulness keeps me grounded, I know it’s a phase I know it will pass. I make time for myself and my family, I ensure work doesn’t spill into my home life also as in previous roles it has been quite an invasive subject."
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