Promoting health and wellbeing during construction of the Parkhead Hub

During the construction of Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP)’s new Parkhead Hub, our North East Health Improvement Team partnered with BAM Construction to support the health and wellbeing of the construction workforce.

The initiative responded to serious mental health challenges within the sector, where male workers are almost four times more likely to die by suicide than the national average. Many workers report struggling with their mental health, and more than a quarter have experienced thoughts of suicide in the past year. These statistics highlight how vital it is to offer accessible, stigma-free support in workplaces like construction.

To help address this, the Health Improvement Team designed a tailored programme aligned with the national Creating Hope Together strategy and the What If a Conversation Could Save a Life approach. Sessions were chosen from the annual health and wellbeing campaign calendar and shaped to fit the culture and needs of the workforce. This work complemented the efforts of BAM’s wellbeing champion, helping embed a wider culture of care on site.

Across the programme, four mental health focused sessions reached 37 workers, strengthening relationships between the Health Improvement Team and the construction workforce. Feedback highlighted increased understanding of stigma, alcohol use, and practical ways to support themselves and each other.

Chloe Frew, Health Improvement Senior, said:”Early engagement showed some hesitation among workers, often due to stigma or generational attitudes around discussing mental health. However, once sessions began, staff strongly valued having protected time and a safe, confidential space to talk. Many said they rarely have opportunities for these conversations and often ‘just get on with things.’ Some even took the learning home, finding it helped them talk more openly with family, children and friends.”

While mental health was the central focus, the team recognised that wellbeing is shaped by a range of interconnected factors - from physical health, to lifestyle choices, to family relationships. To reflect this, the programme also incorporated wider topics that influence, or are influenced by, mental health, helping workers build a more holistic understanding of their overall wellbeing.

One example of the programme’s impact was the cervical screening awareness session. Although delivered in a male dominated environment, reframing the topic around supporting partners and family members led to high engagement. This showed the positive ripple effect of inclusive, family-focused health messaging, and how conversations about wider health issues can strengthen worker confidence in supporting loved ones.

Alongside mental health sessions, the team delivered smoking cessation and financial inclusion support — recognising that financial pressure, lifestyle choices and mental health are closely linked. Workers fed back that these discussions helped them understand how day-to-day stresses affect overall wellbeing and resilience.
Chloe added: “This partnership demonstrates the importance of embedding health improvement within non-traditional settings. By meeting workers where they are and fostering open, compassionate conversations, the team helped promote a culture of wellbeing - one conversation at a time.”