Fin Topping, trainee quantity surveyor and Jordan’s ambassador at Seddon, reflects on the realities of site life, the importance of everyday conversations and why mental health remains one of construction’s most important challenges.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned about mental health is that you never really know what somebody else is going through.
After tragically losing my best friend, I became acutely aware of just how difficult it can be to recognise when someone is struggling. A person can appear to be coping, turning up to work every day and doing their job well, while quietly fighting a battle nobody else can see.
On construction sites especially, there is still a culture of ‘just getting on with the job’. Many people, particularly from older generations, have grown up not talking openly about how they feel. Yet these are often the people others turn to for support – the colleagues who are always smiling, dependable and seemingly able to take everything in their stride.
Statistics show construction workers are 3.7 times more likely to die by suicide than the national average. Behind that statistic are individuals who may look completely fine on the outside but are dealing with challenges that nobody knows about.
Construction has made huge progress when it comes to physical safety. Mental health is more complex because it isn’t always visible. Someone can be struggling without showing any obvious signs, which is why taking the time to check in and have a genuine conversation matters so much.
Looking beyond perceptions
There are still stereotypes about construction and the people who work in it. Some people picture sites full of tough individuals who don’t need to talk about their feelings. But that’s not the reality I see every day.
Construction is full of people with real lives, responsibilities and pressures outside of work. They are building careers, supporting families and dealing with challenges just like everyone else.
The difficulty is that we often assume people are coping because they keep showing up and getting the job done. But whatever someone is facing doesn’t disappear when they walk through the site gates in the morning.
Once you recognise that everyone has something going on behind the scenes, it becomes much harder to make assumptions about who is doing okay and who might need support.
The power of small gestures
Losing my friend completely changed how I look at the people around me. It made me realise how much small gestures can mean.
It doesn’t always have to be a serious conversation. Sometimes it’s simply speaking to someone you wouldn’t normally speak to, asking how they’re getting on, or having a quick chat that isn’t about work.
For me, the important thing is knowing that somebody has taken the time to connect with you when they didn’t have to. It might only be a brief interaction, but it can make someone feel seen and valued – and sometimes that can make a difficult day feel a little easier.
At Seddon, we recognise the importance of creating opportunities for those connections. Whether it’s arranging an ice cream van visit during hot weather, encouraging community activities such as litter picks, wellbeing walks or tree planting, these moments help people feel part of something.
They won’t solve every challenge, but they help build trust and create a culture where people know they matter. And if someone is having a difficult time, that environment can make it easier for them to open up.
Making support easier to access
Sometimes, however, a conversation is only the first step. If someone needs more support, they need to know where they can go and who they can talk to.
Having worked on a variety of sites before joining Seddon, one of the biggest differences I noticed was the visibility and accessibility of support. Construction is a highly mobile industry, with people often moving between different sites and teams. That means support needs to be consistent, easy to access and clearly signposted wherever people are working.
Through the Jordan’s Conversation programme, everyone working on a Seddon site knows who they can speak to if they need advice, guidance or simply someone to listen. As an ambassador, I regularly deliver Jordan’s Conversation toolbox talks on sites, helping to reinforce the message that ‘it’s OK not to be OK’.
For many people, taking that first step is the hardest part, so having these support networks already in place can make a real difference.
Organisations such as mental health charity Mates in Mind are also doing important work across the industry, helping businesses raise awareness, take action and build positive mental health into the workplace. At Seddon, we have also rolled out Mates in Mind’s Champions model across our key supply chain, extending that support beyond our own teams.
The lesson I’ll carry with me
I don’t have all the answers when it comes to improving mental health across construction. But I do know this: you never really know what somebody else might be going through.
The positive thing is that people are talking about mental health more openly than they used to, and that progress matters.
Whether it’s checking in with a colleague, making time for a conversation or ensuring people know where support is available, small actions can have a big impact.
Creating a positive culture isn’t just about training sessions or toolbox talks – although they have their place. It’s built through everyday acts of kindness, showing people they are valued, that someone is thinking about them and that they belong.
Construction is often judged by what it builds. But behind every project are people – and they are what really matter.
