Arts-Based Mental Health Therapy Project

Mental health is one of the most pressing issues facing the construction industry today. Contractors should do all they can to demonstrate their commitment to helping those in need, whether among the workforce or in the local community.

See the examples below for how one site approached this:

• The site was located near the mental health wards at a local hospital.
• The site manager worked with a group of hospital volunteers on an arts-based mental health therapy project which involved patients, hospital staff and the site workforce.
• The project is the creation of a wildlife-themed mural on a section of the site hoarding, which will be relocated into one of the hospital garden areas at the conclusion of the project.
• The mural brought together people of all ages to share an activity, regardless of diagnosis or mental health status.
• The site worked closely with the mental health volunteers at the hospital, getting involved with a number of projects aimed at improving patients’ lives.

Such a proactive stance on mental health demonstrates the site’s respect for all those in their community and their dedication to ending the mental health stigma.