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Making Mental Health Conversations Part of Everyday Working Life

Two builders wearing orange high-vis outfits laying pavement blocks down

KS Civils & Groundworks Ltd is a growing civil engineering and groundworks contractor based in Leeds. Operating in a male-dominated industry where mental health challenges can often go unspoken, the organisation believes looking after people's mental wellbeing is just as important as protecting their physical safety and places its team at the centre of everything it does.

The challenge

KS Civils recognised that many people working in construction still feel pressure to "get on with it" rather than talk openly about how they are feeling or ask for support. The organisation wanted to create a culture where conversations about mental health became a normal part of everyday working life, ensuring colleagues always knew where support was available and felt confident seeking help before problems escalated.

Approach in practice

KS Civils' approach began with honest conversations on site. Rather than treating mental health as a separate initiative, the organisation built wellbeing into everyday supervision through regular check-ins and open conversations.

As the business grew, this developed into a more structured approach, including trained Mental Health First Aiders, visible mental health signage and clear signposting to support across sites and welfare units, making it easy for colleagues to access help when they needed it.

The Founder and Managing Director has also worked to create a culture where communication about mental health is open, honest and consistent. By leading conversations, encouraging colleagues to look out for one another and reinforcing that asking for help is a strength rather than a weakness, KS Civils has challenged the traditional "get on with it" mindset that can exist within the construction industry.

As the business has grown, KS Civils has worked to keep these messages consistent across the organisation, ensuring wellbeing remains visible through everyday conversations, regular communication, clear signposting and continued participation in mental health initiatives.

Impact and learning

KS Civils has found that consistently communicating about mental health has helped create a more supportive workplace culture. Colleagues are increasingly looking out for one another, talking more honestly and showing real care for each other. The organisation has learned that clear, consistent communication, combined with visible support and approachable leadership, helps build trust and creates an environment where people feel comfortable asking for help.

Key takeaway for other employers

Clear, consistent communication helps create a workplace where people know mental health matters and understand how to access support. Regular conversations, visible signposting and approachable leaders can help normalise help-seeking and build trust across the workforce.

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In Focus
Task
Communicate clearly to support mental health at work