Seddon sets up mental health hotline for staff

Grant Prior 7 years ago
Share

Seddon has set up a mental health hotline for its 700 employees following the tragic suicide of one of its young workers.

Jordan Bibby was only 25 when he committed suicide
Jordan Bibby was only 25 when he committed suicide

Jordan Bibby  was just 25 when he took his own life last September.

The painter and decorator was a valued member of the Seddon property services team and his death came as a shock to family, friends and colleagues.

Jordan’s mum, Melanie, said: “No one had any idea that Jordan was suffering.  If he would have reached out to any of us we would have helped him get the support he needed.

“We would have got him through it, we always did, we always made sure he was OK, and for the most part he was.

“I think there was just one moment where he couldn’t see a way forward and he made a decision and it’s the one thing that we can’t fix.

“I would give anything to get him back, my own life for his, but I know that’s not possible.  What I can do is share our story, talk about it and let other people know that, in their darkest moments, there is always someone willing to listen and help.”

Seddon has now launched its ‘Jordan’s Conversation’ mental health and wellbeing initiative across live construction sites and offices.

Talks will discuss how employees can recognise and seek help for their own mental health issues as well as how to spot if a colleague may require support.

All 700 employees will be involved as well as the 400 subcontractor team members on the company’s sites.

Seddon has also set up a comprehensive employee assistance programme, run by employer insurer Aviva – Care First, to provide support services through crisis and access to counselling with a 24 hour confidential external hotline.

Melanie said: “Jordan’s Conversation is such a vital initiative; I felt I had no option but to get involved, to help; it’s what Jordan would have wanted.

“We need to get men especially to open up about how they feel.  We need to let them know that no one is bullet proof and that it’s OK to need help and we need to encourage them to reach out for support.

“I don’t want anyone to ever feel like Jordan must have felt, like they couldn’t carry on.

“If Jordan had reached out a thousand hands would have held him so tightly and only lessened the hold when he was strong enough to stand again. Make Jordan matter, make his life bring a difference.

“No one is alone, please speak out.”

Nicola Hodkinson, director of business services at Seddon said: “We’re a business with family values at its core and our people are very important to us so news of Jordan’s death last year deeply affected all of the team here.

“Since that tragic event, we have thought long and hard about how we can create an environment where our people feel able to speak out if they are suffering and how to ensure everyone in the business looks out for each other’s mental wellbeing.

“Poor mental health is on everyone’s agenda but as a male dominated industry we are more susceptible than most.

“Jordan’s Conversation is a key first step in our mission to achieve our aim and the start of a much more open and supportive approach to mental health at all levels of the business.

 

Latest news

Mace tops contracts league with Euston Tower win

Contractor leads monthly work haul for second month running
2 hours ago

Wates wins £111m Victoria Tower restoration

Palace of Westminster's tallest tower overhaul will take six years
1 hour ago

Police hunt boss on the run after site manslaughter charge

Company director fails to turn up to court to face safety charges after site death
12 hours ago

Glasgow civils firm buys building refurb specialist

M Squared buys EBS Construction in move to target £25m sales
2 hours ago

Lynch plant hire fined £800,000 over abnormal load

Travelling excavator caught in police clampdown
2 hours ago

Buyers flag fears over civil engineering slowdown

All sectors in reverse during "challenging" March
3 days ago

Police recover £100,000 of stolen plant at Harwich port

Polish man arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods
2 hours ago

Winners named for £380m Scottish council housing upkeep deal

PfH Scotland names 38 firms for social housing landlord deal
3 days ago

Torsion and Khalbros to build new Leeds £1bn neighbourhood

Eastgate Quarter site acquired from Hammerson
4 days ago

Kier wins first phase of £700m Warwick Uni campus build

Firm to start work on science and engineering precinct last this year
4 days ago

JCB to double size of US factory in wake of Trump tariffs

$500m Texas factory under construction to expand to 1m sq ft
4 days ago

Green light for £2.4bn Luton Airport expansion

Government go-ahead to transform airport
4 days ago

Mivan looks to boost supply chain network

Subcontractors and suppliers invited to meet the buyer event: Book places now
3 days ago

Diversification pays off for concrete frame specialist Statom

Strong results as £180m turnover firm expands into infrastructure sector
4 days ago

Cardo in talks to buy Breyer roofing arm

More than 100 jobs could be saved at Breyer Roofing
4 days ago

Quartet win £750m Wales & Western railway deal

Network Rail confirms partners for Reactive and Minor Works framework
4 days ago

Plans in for £350m London Bridge life sciences hub

Snowsfields Quarter will consist of three buildings containing labs
4 days ago

Surging labour costs push tender price forecast up

Pick-up in tender prices despite weak growth
4 days ago

Permasteelisa wins cladding deal on Multiplex city tower

Facade specialist wins work on Fenchurch Street ‘hanging gardens’ tower
4 days ago

Wates wins fit-out for Manchester First Street Hub

Smartspace arm secures another Government hub deal
5 days ago

Peel Ports reveals winners for £750m framework

18 firms win places on deal: Full list
5 days ago

Big trade names dropped in M Group rebrand

Acquisitive group formed from Morrison Utility services in 2016
5 days ago

Breyer Group files administration notice

Staff hope rival firm could buy assets and save jobs
5 days ago

Former Severfield director takes helm at Embrace Steel

New CEO Martin Kelly aims to step up expansion of steelwork contractor
5 days ago

£302m upgrade funding awarded to FE colleges – list

Cash shared out between England’s 179 college groups
5 days ago

FK Facades thrives but construction arm hit by ISG row

Dispute with failed contractor costs specialist £5.5m
5 days ago

Galliford Try gets go-ahead for Milton Keynes PRS tower

33-storey tower needs gateway 2 approval before work can start
6 days ago

Small house builders get £150m funding for green homes

Developers will have to meet-up to ten new criteria to benefit from interest rate discounts
5 days ago

Lendlease Construction renamed Bovis

US private equity firm completes £35m purchase of UK contracting business and rebrands
6 days ago

Breyer Group battles for survival as rivals circle

Housing maintenance firm fights three winding up petitions in a month
6 days ago

Contractor services