The MAD Construction Summit

In 2024, to align with World Mental Health Day, the inaugural MAD World Construction Summit will be staged alongside the 7th MAD World Summit, and we invite you to join us. Whether you’re self-employed, or part of a construction (or related sector) organisation of any size, from multinational to SMEs and sole traders, the content will be relevant whether you have a specialist role – HR or Health and Safety, or you are a senior leader, line manager, employee, or apprentice. Government entities, colleges offering built environment apprenticeships, regulatory bodies and consultants are also invited to join the event.

The event will bring together key figures to provide insight, expertise and best practice case studies on mental health in the construction sector and what organisations are doing to improve mental wellbeing within their own organisation and their supply chains. Attendees will hear from construction organisations on what they are doing and the impact it is having, mental health experts, regulators and other key stakeholders. It is a chance to learn, to be inspired and to go away armed both with greater understanding but also concrete steps to take in your organisation to improve mental health and wellbeing, and through that the performance of your people, organisation and supply chain.

Employers have a legal duty of care to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of their employees, including mental health/stress. Mental wellbeing also benefits the business, for example, increased productivity, a reduction in sickness and staff turnover, and it demonstrates that the organisation is a good, safe, and supportive place to work. Research has found that, on average, businesses achieve a £5 return for every £1 spent on wellbeing support (Deloitte UK). 

This is a key sector event as the following shocking statistics demonstrate:

• In 2021, there were 6,319 suicides registered in the UK, of which 507 were in construction alone (Office for National Statistics). 
• A third of construction workers live with severe levels of anxiety (Mates in Mind).
• The main work factors cited as causing work-related stress, depression or anxiety include the demands of the job, lack of control, lack of information and support, work relationships, and roles and responsibilities (HSE).   
• 88% of construction workers viewed the provision of mental health support as important when choosing their next job – with 39% considering it as very important and 49% believing it to be somewhat important (Randstad UK). 

The MAD Construction Summit aims to build better positive mental health and wellbeing cultures in and through work across the construction sector. By providing best practice, toolkits and case studies, this summit will demonstrate how organisations can embed a continuous and comprehensive solution to ensure that no-one reaches crisis point and mental health awareness becomes everyone’s issue.

In putting together this construction sector summit we have partnered with Mates in Mind. Mates in Mind is a leading UK charity which enables organisations of any size, to proactively improve their workforce wellbeing. They work collaboratively with employers, providing the skills, clarity and confidence to businesses across construction and other related industries, to be the change that is needed to embed positive mental health in and through work. Ensuring all teams are supported through a proactive prevention strategy which raises awareness, improves understanding and the confidence to address the stigma of mental ill-health, we create supportive workplaces that ensure no one is made mentally unwell through their work.