Pirtek launches Under the Hard Hat mental health campaign

The campaign follows the company’s recent research conducted in partnership with The Engineer, Marine Professional, and Transport Engineer, which showed that 94 per cent 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 2024, with keynotes delivered by its partners Ollie Ollerton; best known for Channel 4’s ‘SAS: Who Dares Wins’; and Lucas Whitehead, spokesperson at suicide prevention charity, Andy’s Man Club.

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.

In a statement, Adam Burrows, managing director 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”.

Ollerton, founder of The BreakPoint Academy, started the event by 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.

Ollerton said: “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 per cent believe that their workplaces do not have sufficient mental health support in place. 

For more info about Under the Hard Hat, head to: https://www.pirtek.co.uk/under-the-hard-hat/

To find an Andy’s Man Club support group near you, please visit: https://andysmanclub.co.uk/