Supporting apprentices’ mental health

Joscelyne Shaw, Director of Strategy at Mates Mind, said: “Mates in Mind are striving to improve apprentices’ mental health because we understand that the challenges of poor mental health are affecting young people across our industries. As reported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), half of all mental illnesses begin by the age of 14, and three-quarters by mid-20s. Moreover, poor mental health can have an impact on future generations, contributing further to cycles of inequality and ill health that may run through some families.

Using the funding provided by the B&CE, Mates in Mind have launched their Apprentices’ Mental Health Survey. The results of the survey will provide us with insights and an evidence base about apprentices’ mental health from which we will develop a programme tailored to their needs and responding to their concerns. 

To support our current apprentices’ initiative Mates in Mind are also promoting a poster created by Colin Orr, the British Safety Council’s 2018 poster competition winner, whose ‘Image of wellbeing’ illustrates how depression among young people can manifest itself. 

“With our work across the construction industry now reaching over 188,000 workers through our 210 Supporter organisations, we are striving to provide apprentices and young people with the best starting point at the beginning of their careers,” says Joscelyne Shaw.

Mates in Mind would like to appeal to all UK employers, colleges and apprentices’ schemes to encourage their apprentices to take part in our survey. We will be using it to support our work to transform the industry’s approach to mental health.