Building Mental Health Alliance wins major UK award for innovation

The Building Mental Health Alliance (BMHA) has won a prestigious Safety Groups UK (SGUK) Award for Innovation 2024. The accolade celebrates BMHA’s pioneering Mental Health in Construction Signposting Service, a vital resource launched in 2022 to address the mental health challenges faced by workers in the construction sector.

BMHA was formed in Northern Ireland by 26 organisations committed to tackling mental health concerns in the trade; this includes addressing a critical need for awareness, accessible support and employee training.

Those organisations include GRAHAM, Farrans, Henry Brothers, the Construction Industry Training Board NI, Construction Employers Federation, McLaughlin and Harvey, Northern Ireland Safety Group, and many others. Together, they represent over 12,000 construction employees and a combined turnover of £2.3 billion.

A survey of the industry highlighted a major gap in awareness about available support within Northern Ireland. In response, BMHA made bridging this gap one of its three key pillars, positioning itself as the essential signposting service to connect workers with the wide range of existing support services.

This collaborative effort is the first of its kind, bringing together various stakeholders in construction under the shared mission: “By the Industry, for the Industry.” The Mental Health in Construction Signposting Service, easily accessible via a QR code, offers users a straightforward route to a wide range of mental health resources, including helpline numbers and online support. Statistics have shown high engagement with the service, highlighting its effectiveness.

The judges of the SGUK Award praised BMHA for its “comprehensive, impactful, and innovative approach” to a significant issue within the construction industry, while also recognising its potential to be replicated in other sectors.

Wilson Lambe, Chair of BMHA, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this award. It highlights the power of collective action and collaboration across the entire industry. While the number of people using our service isn’t the primary focus, what truly matters is that we’re providing vital access to mental health support for those who need it most. We are also more than happy to assist any other organisations looking to implement a similar model and make a real difference in their sector.”

He added: “Winning this award is a testament to the hard work and dedication that went into creating this service—one that has long been needed in the construction industry. We are proud that, as an industry, we have united to promote this service, making it easier for workers to access the support they need.

“Winning this award just ahead of World Mental Health Day is particularly meaningful. It allows us to celebrate this milestone at a time when mental health is a global focus. We hope that other industries will follow our example because, without positive mental health, everything else falls short.”