PIRTEK UK and Ireland has launched its Under the Hard Hat campaign to raise awareness of mental health in the hard hat sectors.
The campaign follows the hydraulics specialist’s recent research which showed that 94% of hard hat workers have struggled with their mental health.
The Under the Hard Hat launch event took place at Pirtek’s National Training Centre in Birmingham on October 17, with keynotes delivered by its partners Ollie Ollerton, best known for Channel 4’s ‘SAS: Who Dares Wins’ and author of The Sunday Times bestselling book ‘Break Point’; and Lucas Whitehead, spokesperson at suicide prevention charity Andy’s Man Club.
Given that hard hat industries are often heavily male-dominated, the event emphasised the importance of breaking stigmas associated with men’s mental health. It also provided advice and resources to support mental health awareness on a broader level, regardless of gender.
Adam Burrows, MD of Pirtek UK and Ireland, said, “Pirtek provides services to a wide range of hard hat industries, meaning that we are in a unique position to open up more positive conversations surrounding mental health. We are also providing internal support to our network and now have mental health ambassadors in place to help do this”.
The event started with Ollie Ollerton, founder of The BreakPoint Academy, sharing his personal experiences with mental health struggles and the steps he has taken to transform his life. This was followed by a presentation by Lucas Whitehead at Andy’s Man Club, which told the story of why the charity was formed and how its groups are helping thousands of men across the country.
Ollie Ollerton commented, “I’m passionate about turning my experiences into a force for good by helping people transform their lives, turning mental health into mental wealth. To do this, individuals need to understand the significance of poor mental health, whether they are struggling themselves or not. This starts with spreading awareness and providing a safe space for family, friends, and colleagues to talk. Here is where businesses like Pirtek have the power to make a difference”.
This sentiment supports Pirtek’s research on mental health in the hard hat industries as over half of respondents reported feeling uncomfortable or awkward talking about their mental health; four out of ten have taken time off work for mental health reasons; and 41% believe that their workplaces don’t have sufficient mental health support in place.
To close the event, a panel discussion was held involving Ollerton and Whitehead along with Pirtek’s QHSE Manager, Martyn Smart and one of Pirtek’s franchise owners, Stuart Brown. Brown was chosen as a panel guest as he runs weekly group sessions on behalf of Andy’s Man Club.
