The Big Brew is Back to Tackle Industry’s Mental Health Crisis

THE BIG BREW campaign is back this October in a bid to tackle the mental health crisis affecting the UK construction industry.

The campaign encourages construction industry workers and tradespeople to come together over a cuppa to support one another and remove the taboo around mental health in the sector.

This year, Big Red Construction is the headline sponsor for the event. The company says it sees supporting the Big Brew as “absolutely vital” for the UK construction industry, where the suicide rate of workers is estimated to be as high as two people every day.

Speaking about the tie-up, Mike Lomas, Managing Director of Big Red Industries, said: “It is our key focus at Big Red to support all our construction workers, as we recognise the impact that not having the correct support or tools in place can have a detrimental impact on those who may be struggling with their mental health and day to day life. It’s absolutely vital that individuals, businesses and the industry at large do all they can to tackle this crisis.

“We are supporting this year’s Big Brew because it’s a brilliantly simple idea to encourage tradespeople and contractors to have a quick timeout over a cuppa and check in with colleagues and friends to just see if they’re OK.”

Introducing the Tea Scale

More than 300 Big Brew events are expected to be hosted this October – mainly on construction sites and at builders’ merchants – and the campaign is timed to coincide with World Mental Health Day.

Peter Cape, the Big Brew lead at Band of Builders, said: “The most effective way to start turning the tide on this is to get tradespeople and contractors talking, and this year we are introducing a tea scale as one way to start conversations – with images of different strengths of a cuppa. So, we are asking tradespeople ‘where are you at on the mental health tea scale?’”

Peter continues, “We are proud that the Big Brew is gaining genuine momentum – particularly through the support of organisations such as Big Red Construction – because it means we can reach out to more tradespeople and construction workers who may be in crisis.”

There’s still time to register interest in hosting a Big Brew event and you can join in the conversation online by using the hashtag #GiveYourselfABreak.

>> Read more about mental health awareness in the news