Team host Alex from Silva Wellness for on site Mental Health talk
Today we had the privilege of inviting Alex Da Silva from Silva Wellness to carry out a health and wellbeing talk for the project team at the Zone 29 project, including our supply chain site operatives/ management, client and Morgan Sindall team.
Alex shared his powerful story on life struggles and some key tools to use to help with every deal with any mental health issues. He also touched on the inspiration behind founding Silva Wellness, an organisation dedicated to wellness, mental health, and addiction recovery. His insights were both eye-opening and deeply impactful, particularly regarding the alarming mental health crisis in the construction industry.
Alex highlighted some hard-hitting statistics: in 2022, over 650 construction workers tragically took their own lives, and these numbers are expected to have worsened since. In a male-dominated industry where suicide remains the leading cause of death among men—and increasingly affects younger men—he explained how the stigma surrounding masculinity and internalised emotions is taking a devastating toll on key workers.
The systemic narrative of “toughness” and the pressure to suppress emotions are compounding these issues. Alex shared some invaluable strategies to address the root causes of stress and harm, including the importance of positivity, gratitude, meditation, breathwork, and proper nutrition.
He also emphasised practical steps that the construction industry can take, such as introducing mentors and coaches to support mental health, creating support groups to encourage open conversations, and breaking the stigma by normalising vulnerability. These efforts can show workers that they’re not alone—and that it’s how we manage and respond to challenges that makes the difference.
It’s inspiring to see companies like Morgan Sindall taking the lead in addressing these issues and striving to reduce these frightening statistics. There’s so much we can learn and implement as an industry to promote healthier workplaces and better outcomes for everyone.
A huge thank you to Alex for sharing his story and giving us so much to think about and act upon. Let’s all continue to make wellness and mental health a priority.
