School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2HA, UK.
NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK.
Occup Med (Lond). 2023 Sep 29;73(6):317-323. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqad075.
Mental ill-health is prevalent in the construction industry, and workers in small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are at high risk. Knowledge about the implementation of mental health initiatives in construction SMEs is limited.
To explore enablers and barriers to implementing mental health initiatives within UK SME construction firms from the perspective of the business owners, directors and managers with responsibilities for workplace mental health.
Qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews conducted with company owners/managers with responsibilities for workforce mental health. Participants were sampled from construction SMEs in the UK.
Eleven construction professionals were interviewed (10 men, 1 woman; aged 34-55 years, M = 40.6) representing UK SME construction firms that were micro (<10 employees, n = 8), small (<50 employees, n = 1) and medium (<250 employees, n = 2) sized organizations. Reflexive thematic analysis generated four themes: (i) traditional views and macho culture, identified as barriers to implementation; (ii) mental health awareness, knowledge and education; (iii) valuing good mental health and (iv) a reactive or proactive approach to mental health, which all served as both enablers and barriers depending on perspective and context.
This study sheds light on an under-researched but high-risk category of workers experiencing poor mental health. We provide recommendations for policy and practice with a 'call to action' for SME owners, industry and policymakers to embark on workplace mental health implementation projects in SME settings.
精神健康问题在建筑行业普遍存在，中小企业（SMEs）的工人面临高风险。对于在建筑中小企业中实施心理健康计划的知识有限。
从负责工作场所心理健康的企业主、董事和经理的角度，探讨在英国 SME 建筑公司中实施心理健康计划的促进因素和障碍。
这是一项定性研究，涉及对负责员工心理健康的公司业主/经理进行半结构化访谈。参与者是从英国的 SME 建筑公司中抽样的。
共采访了 11 位建筑专业人士（10 名男性，1 名女性；年龄 34-55 岁，M = 40.6），代表了英国 SME 建筑公司，其中 8 家是微型（<10 名员工），1 家是小型（<50 名员工），2 家是中型（<250 名员工）。反思性主题分析生成了四个主题：（i）传统观念和男子气概文化，被认为是实施的障碍；（ii）心理健康意识、知识和教育；（iii）重视良好的心理健康；（iv）对心理健康的被动或主动方法，这些都取决于视角和背景，既可以作为促进因素，也可以作为障碍。
本研究揭示了一个研究不足但高风险的工人群体，他们经历着较差的心理健康。我们为政策和实践提供了建议，并呼吁 SME 业主、行业和政策制定者在 SME 环境中开展工作场所心理健康实施项目。
