Veriforce CHAS, the UK’s leading provider of compliance and risk management solutions, has warmly welcomed the release of the new white paper, Prioritising Mental Health in the Workplace, launched by the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Stakeholder Alliance to mark World Mental Health Day on 10 October.
Through the white paper the group of leading UK health and safety organisations have come together to address workplace mental health challenges. It urges the Government, employers, and workplace health and safety leaders to take decisive action to tackle mental health issues at work.
Veriforce CHAS has been active in championing mental health causes in the construction sector, supporting Causeway Technology’s campaign to improve the sector’s poor track record. Construction sees the second highest rates of suicide in the UK, and Veriforce CHAS is working with Causeway as well as supporting the charity Lighthouse to raise awareness and improve the situation.
Although the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prioritised the reduction of work-related ill health—particularly mental health and stress—over the next decade, the number of people leaving work due to mental health problems is not declining. Alarmingly, these numbers continue to rise.
The report highlights troubling statistics from the HSE, revealing that 875,000 people in Great Britain experienced work-related stress, depression, or anxiety in 2022-23, resulting in over 17 million lost working days.
In response, the white paper stresses the importance of collective responsibility in improving mental health, urging everyone to play their part. It calls on employers to embed mental health at the core of their organisational strategies, advocating for stronger protections and a more robust promotion of mental well-being in the workplace.
Proactive approach to mental health
Veriforce CHAS has already been proactive in addressing mental health concerns within the construction sector. In April 2024, the organisation launched its voluntary Mental Health & Wellbeing Evaluation, which has seen widespread industry adoption with 8,000 contractors having now completed the mental health module.
The Mental Health & Wellbeing Question Set is designed to encourage construction companies to implement best practices around mental health. It empowers contractors and buyers to demonstrate their commitment to well-being initiatives within their organisations and supply chains. By completing this evaluation, contractors can showcase their efforts to create supportive workplaces, which may include documented mental health policies, training programs, and flexible work arrangements for staff dealing with mental health issues.
Furthermore, Veriforce CHAS’s Client Portal provides hiring clients with access to critical information on contractors’ mental health practices. This transparency enables businesses to make more informed decisions, ensuring their choices align with their values and drive positive change across the sector.
Driving industry-wide change
The launch of the Mental Health & Wellbeing Question Set followed work with Causeway Technologies, which introduced a campaign and mental health pledge aimed at elevating mental health awareness in the construction industry.
Commenting on the launch of the white paper, CHAS Managing Director Ian McKinnon stated: “We welcome this fresh focus on mental health through the OSH Stakeholder Alliance white paper. Having influential organisations rally behind this critical issue will undoubtedly raise the profile of mental health across all sectors, driving meaningful change.”
He added, “The strong uptake of our voluntary question set has been highly encouraging. For our part we will continue collaborating with industry partners, including Causeway Technologies, to champion mental health and wellbeing initiatives across the sector.”
