Key Takeaway

• Mental health is being treated as a practical, on‑site priority at Virtus, not just a conversation. By taking action through targeted training with HandsHQ, Virtus is equipping project teams with the confidence, skills, and support needed to recognise mental health challenges early, reduce stigma, and encourage open conversations. Embedding mental health awareness on every project site strengthens wellbeing, safety, and performance, while reinforcing a culture where it’s genuinely okay to talk and ask for help.
• For urgent help be sure to contact a professional or further help can be found at Mental Health UK.

Mental Health Awareness Week

This week, we are marking Mental Health Awareness Week, an important campaign dedicated to challenging stigma, providing support, and increasing understanding of mental health. The 2026 theme, “Take Action,” encourages all of us to make practical, meaningful steps toward improving mental wellbeing.

At Virtus, we are taking action by focusing on how our teams can become better educated and more confident in supporting the mental health colleagues and peers. We are committed to creating environments where our workforce feels informed, supported, and prepared to have open conversations.

As part of this commitment, we are proud to introduce our new training partner, HandsHQ. Through this partnership, our workforce now has access to a wide range of mental health training, including Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health Awareness in Construction. These targeted, practical courses are designed to be accessible for project teams working on-site, removing the need for extended time away for off-site training.

Our goal is to have at least one person trained in mental health awareness on every project site. This ensures that anyone experiencing poor mental health has someone they can turn to, and that there are trained individuals able to recognise early signs and offer support.

The training also highlights the importance of looking out for colleagues, recognising when someone may be struggling, and understanding the support available. Most importantly, it reassures everyone at Virtus that they are not alone and that there is always someone to turn to for guidance, support, and understanding. Creating this culture of openness and support is essential in maintaining both personal wellbeing and a positive working environment for all.

Our first employee to complete the HandsHQ training in Mental Health Awareness in Construction was Small Works Project Manager, Monika Glazow. We spoke with Monika to learn more about her experience:

1. What motivated you, as a project manager, to take mental health first aider training?

To better understand my team and support them through tough moments. Construction can be a high-pressure environment, and I wanted to be able to recognise how people might be feeling and help them during difficult periods at work.

2. How do you see mental health impacting safety and performance on a construction site?

When operatives are struggling with their mental health, they may find it difficult to concentrate. This can lead to underperformance, mistakes, and even incidents or near misses.

3. Before the training, what challenges did you notice among your staff regarding stress or wellbeing?

There was often a lack of communication, reduced focus, and lower levels of engagement.

4. What were the most valuable skills or insights you gained from the training?

Understanding that expressing feelings and asking for help is not a weakness, it’s a brave and important step.

5. How has the training changed the way you interact with your team?

I now make more effort to check in with my team regularly, asking how their day has been and encouraging open conversations.

6. Can you share an example of how you’ve applied what you learned?

When someone is under pressure, I try to reach out, engage in conversation, and listen. I reassure them that what they’re feeling is valid and that everyone has both good and bad days. Sometimes it’s about encouraging them to step back, take a breath, and reset. No one is perfect, we’re all human.

7. What advice would you give to other construction managers considering this training?

Be open-minded. Mental health challenges can affect anyone. It’s not a weakness – it’s something we all need to understand and support.

We will continue to encourage open conversations and provide meaningful support for our workforce, ensuring that mental health remains a priority across all our projects and that everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to take action.