Supporting Our Workers: Boosting Mental Health Support On-Site
While construction sites have long prioritised physical safety, the industry has increasingly recognised the importance of mental health and wellbeing. Construction workers often face demanding environments, long hours and high-pressure projects, making it vital that organisations create a culture where mental health is recognised, supported and openly discussed.
Recognising the need for greater mental health awareness at site-level, Stocksigns have collaborated with The Lucy Rayner Foundation to develop a dedicated range of mental health signage designed specifically for construction and workplace environments. The aim was simple but powerful: to make mental health visible, accessible and openly discussed on site.
Leading the charge in raising on‑site mental health awareness is Murphy, one of the UK’s leading infrastructure and engineering companies, who share a strong commitment to protecting and supporting their workforce. With core values cantered on respect, safety and wellbeing, Murphy saw the potential of the Stocksigns mental health signage range and began rolling it out across their sites to help reinforce these messages.
““At Murphy we are committed to supporting our employees, including a focus on mental health. Our strategic partnership with Stocksigns has allowed us to implement consistent messaging across all our projects in relation to Mental Health and the support available to everyone on our projects, whether that is Mental Health First Aider support or signposting to the Lighthouse Charity.”
– Ann Marie Coulthurst, Head of Health and Wellbeing at Murphy
Developing the Mental Health Signage
Stocksigns worked in partnership with the Lucy Rayner Foundation to develop and design the mental health signage range. The charity is dedicated to raising awareness of mental health and suicide prevention, providing valuable insight into how messaging can encourage people to seek help and start conversations.
By collaborating with the foundation, Stocksigns ensured the signage was not only informative but also approachable, supportive and impactful in all the right ways. The designs focus on clear messaging that encourages workers to check in with themselves and their colleagues, while also highlighting where support is available.
The signage range includes:
- Mental Health First Aider signs identifying trained individuals on site who workers can approach for support
- Awareness posters encouraging people not to ignore or supress their mental health needs
- Support messaging reminding workers that it is okay to talk about how they are feeling to encourage open and honest conversations
Mental Health First Aider signs identifying trained individuals on site who workers can approach for support
Awareness posters encouraging people not to ignore or supress their mental health needs
Support messaging reminding workers that it is okay to talk about how they are feeling to encourage open and honest conversations
“At Murphy we are committed to supporting our employees, including a focus on mental health. Our strategic partnership with Stocksigns has allowed us to implement consistent messaging across all our projects in relation to Mental Health and the support available to everyone on our projects, whether that is Mental Health First Aider support or signposting to the Lighthouse Charity.”
– Jenny Rayner MBE, CEO f The Lucy Rayner Foundation
Implementation on Murphy Sites
Murphy has begun introducing the Stocksigns mental health signage across its sites as part of its commitment to building a safe and supportive working environment.
The signage has been strategically placed in locations where workers regularly gather, ensuring the messages are seen and become part of everyday site culture. These locations include:
- Site entrances, where the message that mental health matters is visible from the moment workers arrive
- Changing rooms and welfare facilities, shared environments where individuals can reflect or seek information privately
- Break rooms and communal areas, encouraging open discussions among colleagues
- Site noticeboards, where information about mental health first aiders and support services can be easily accessed
By integrating the signage into these everyday spaces, the messages become a consistent reminder that mental health is just as important as physical safety.
The Impact on Site
The introduction of mental health signage across Murphy sites has helped support a culture where workers feel more comfortable discussing mental wellbeing.
The visibility of the signage helps to:
- Increase awareness of mental health support on site
- Make mental health first aiders easier to identify and approach
- Encourage workers to look out for each other and start conversations
- Reinforce Murphy’s commitment to protecting the wellbeing of everyone on site
Sometimes, simply seeing a message that reminds workers they are not alone can make a significant difference. By placing these messages in everyday working environments, Murphy is helping ensure mental health remains an ongoing conversation rather than a one-off initiative.
By positioning the signage in these shared environments, the message becomes part of the everyday working environment rather than a one-off campaign.
Murphy work closely with the Lighthouse Charity who offer free and confidential 24/7 holistic support on all aspects of emotional, physical and financial wellbeing to the UK and Ireland construction community.
“We are delighted to be part of this proactive initiative to ensure that our workforce know how and where to access the support they need. We are continually sharing the message that reaching out for help is a strength, not a weakness and having clear support channels on display helps normalise conversations around the importance of site wellbeing.”
-Sarah Bolton, CEO of the Lighthouse Charity
Partnership and Industry Impact
For Stocksigns, the goal of the mental health signage range has always been to help break down stigma and make mental health a visible part of workplace safety culture at site-level.
Through collaboration with the Lucy Rayner Foundation and support from organisations such as the Lighthouse Charity, the signage has been designed to encourage workers to speak openly, seek help and support one another.
Murphy’s adoption of the signage demonstrates how simple but meaningful initiatives can play an important role in creating a more supportive construction industry.
By making mental health visible across site environments, the signage is helping to raise awareness, encourage conversation and remind workers that looking after mental wellbeing is everyone’s responsibility.