Let’s be frank. Life is hard. Very hard for many right now. Like many other, I myself feel the same pressure most of us do.
We have an energy and cost of living crisis eating away at our money. Mortgage rates are going up. We’re about to enter a recession set to last for two years. For those of you with a young family, that pressure ramps up exponentially as you put your children before yourself.
All of this, plus the daily work grind can have a terrible toll on a person’s mental health. Although I won’t go into detail here, I have been in the same position many of you may be feeling right now. Depression, anxiety. That dread of facing the next day. I know it can be so bad that it stops you in your tracks. It can reduce you to staring at a screen all day. It’s a paralysing effect.
That is why, despite it being a hard subject to talk about at first, the protection of our mental health is one of the most important things in life. In fenestration, and indeed the wider construction sector, which is largely male in its demographic, these issues are of particular importance. Suicide rates in construction are higher than in other parts of the economy. This is something that has to be addressed.
One organisation doing amazing work in this area is The Lighthouse Club. They are a construction industry charity that provides emotional, physical and financial well-being support to construction workers and their families in times of crisis.
Supporting The Lighthouse Club is fenestration IBG supplier QANW. At the start of the year, QANW made a very generous £10,000 donation to the charity, which will help it fund the support people within the construction sector can access when times become tough.
Gemma Swankie, Head of Sales and Marketing, at QANW, said: “We are very proud to be partnering with Lighthouse Club to help fund the support that they offer to the construction industry. Our members are all involved in the construction and home improvement sectors, and as well as this donation, we will be working with Lighthouse Club to spread the message about the work they do, and the resources and help they offer to anyone who is struggling.”
As I eluded to, I have been in the same position in the past that others have found themselves in. Seeking support is not easy. For men, talking about this very subject is in itself a huge step. But for anyone who finds themselves in a dark place, talking and finding help is by far the most positive step you can take. This is where organisations like The Lighthouse Club, backed by great companies such as QANW can give people that safe place to open up and begin the road to recovery.
Anyone working within the construction or fenestration sector can access Lighthouse Club support – go to www.lighthouseclub.co.uk for more information.
To find out more about QANW, Insurance Backed Guarantees and how they can help your business, visit: www.qanw.co.uk
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