Our Technical Publications and Careers Manager Katie Kelleher was invited to speak at Get Construction Talking’s Construction Mental Health Summit at London’s Gherkin.
From labour voices to major contractors, clients, technology firms, consultants, universities, SMEs and many other organisations, the event brought many parts of the industry together under the Gherkin’s iconic glass roof for an honest and frank set of conversations about mental health.
Katie told us that the atmosphere was as inspiring as the setting – a room full of people determined to shift the conversation on mental health in construction. Her key takeaways from the panel sessions were:
- Health must be valued as much as safety
- Time for medical appointments should be protected, not pressured
- Gambling and substance abuse need to be openly addressed, not brushed aside
- Real change comes from honest conversations, not just policies
- Engagement and buy in from the ground up is essential
- We can influence external and internal pressures by making a better workplace for everyone
- On time payments needs to be prioritised, why give people financial worries on top of everything else
Katie has become an advocate for highlighting the importance of mental wellbeing, having been invited to participate in several initiatives for organisations such as Construction Sport and Get Construction Talking. She has also hosted her own ‘Tales from the Hook’ podcast to break stigma, encourage open discussion and elevate construction voices.
Thank you Katie for helping to keep the conversation alive about the importance of mental wellbeing.
