Construction Mental Health Talks
This Is Where Construction Starts Talking
Join Vishal Narbheram for a honest talk about
mental health and masculinity in construction
Hey,
I’m Vish, and I’ve spent over 15 years working in construction as an electrician. Like many people in the industry, I kept things to myself, got on with the job and rarely spoke about what was really going on.
Behind the scenes, I was struggling both personally and at work. My mental health was in a bad place, and I was constantly trying to keep my head above water while living up to what I thought being ‘a man’ was supposed to look like.
Eventually, I reached a point where I didn’t want to be here anymore. That was when I chose to see a therapist, and it changed my life.
It also made me realise how difficult it can still feel to have honest conversations about mental health within construction.
That experience eventually led me to create Onward Shift a mental health platform built for the industry I love, offering the kind of support and conversations I once needed.
If this sounds like a conversation you’d like to be part of, I’d love to see you at one of the next talks!
What This Talk Is About
This is a keynote-style talk built around real lived experience of working in construction and struggling with mental health. It’s honest, personal and at times uncomfortable, but the purpose is simple: to start conversations that we don’t have often enough.
During the session, we cover:
- Mental health in construction
- The pressure of “just getting on with it”
- Masculinity and the impact of not speaking up
- Breaking down the “man up” culture
- Why speaking up and asking for help matters
This Conversation Matters
This isn’t a small issue, it’s sadly happening across the entire industry and in all parts of UK:
- 94% experienced stress over the past year
- 83% experienced anxiety
- 60% experienced depression
- 27% experienced suicidal thoughts
(Source: CIOB, Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025)
These aren’t just statistics. They represent people across our industry colleagues, friends, tradespeople, managers and people we work alongside every day. If we want things to change, we have to create more opportunities to talk honestly about what people are experiencing.
What to Expect on the Day
- A live keynote talk sharing real experiences
- Open Q&A and discussion (no pressure to speak)
- A space to listen, reflect and understand
- Time at the end to connect and speak with others
Who This is For
These talks are built primarily for people working in construction from tradespeople and site workers to supervisors, managers and industry leaders but anyone who wants to listen, understand and be part of the conversation is welcome.
You don’t need to have experienced mental health difficulties yourself. Sometimes simply understanding what somebody else may be going through can help us become better colleagues, friends and people.
Important Information
📍 Event Details
- Date: Next date TBC
- Time: 7 PM – 9 PM
- Holiday Inn Birchwood Road, Dedham, Colchester, CO7 6HS
- Teas and coffees provided
- Parking included
- Price – £10.00 per ticket
🔞 Due to the nature of the content and personal experiences shared, this event is not suitable for under 18s.
Join the waiting list and we’ll let you know when the next talk is confirmed
You can also visit Eventbrite to see our upcoming events.
Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, spaces are limited, so booking in advance is recommended to secure your place.
No. There’s absolutely no pressure.
You can just come, listen and take it in.
These talks are built for people in construction but they’re open to anyone who wants to understand, listen and be part of the conversation.
Due to the nature of the topics discussed, these talks are not suitable for under 18s.
- Teas and coffees
- Free parking
- A relaxed, informal environment
- A real, honest talk
- A better understanding of mental health in construction
- A space to reflect
- The opportunity to connect with others
Yes, there’s time at the end to connect and talk if you want to.
