November is Men’s Health Awareness Month, so it’s a good time for engineering and manufacturing employers to take stock. These settings are fast paced, often shift based, and quality critical. The culture you build decides whether people speak up early or struggle quietly. It also shapes whether new talent chooses you.
Why men’s mental health at work matters
Men are less likely to ask for help. The Health and Safety Executive reports 16.4 million working days lost to work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2023 to 2024, averaging 21.1 days per case, the biggest cause of time lost to ill health. In male-heavy teams, silence hits safety, quality and retention; a visible support culture keeps people well and makes you more attractive to new starters and experienced hires.
Most teams in our sector are still mostly male. EngineeringUK reports women at 16.9% of engineering and technology roles. That balance can make speaking up feel harder due to stereotypes, which is why managers need clear ways for people to get support. November’s focus is a good prompt to make those pathways visible and keep them in place all year.
Culture first: practical steps that work
Leaders go first. When supervisors talk openly about workload, pressure and where to get help, teams follow. A two minute check-in at the start of a shift can normalise conversations and surface issues early.
Make the pathway obvious. Spell out who to contact, what a Mental Health First Aider does, and what happens next. Keep it simple, confidential and quick.
Build real skills. Awareness helps, but skills change outcomes. Mental Health First Aid training gives nominated staff a structured action plan to start supportive conversations, recognise red flags and signpost correctly.
Tackle causes, not just symptoms. Rotas, overtime, break access, hot or noisy workstations and job design all influence stress. Use toolbox talks and daily stand-ups to spot pinch points, then remove them. The payoff is steadier output and safer sites.
Make it a talent magnet. A positive, supportive culture is now a deciding factor for candidates. Show how you look after people in real terms. Trained Mental Health First Aiders, clear pathways to support, sensible rotas and leaders who check in signal psychological safety and professionalism. It helps you win over apprentices, returners and experienced technicians.
A simple action plan for November
- Put Men’s Health Awareness Month on team briefings and screens.
- Publish your Mental Health First Aiders, with names, photos and shift coverage.
- Book training for the right levels, from awareness to supervising.
- Review workload hotspots with your teams and agree fixes you can implement quickly.
Build a positive work culture that attracts new talent
- Set the tone at the top. Supervisors and managers model the behaviour. Open check-ins, fair workload planning and quick support when someone flags a problem.
- Make support easy to find. Publish who your Mental Health First Aiders are and how to contact them on every shift.
- Design works well. Stable rotas, protected breaks and tidy handovers reduce stress and errors.
- Invest in skills. Training shows commitment, builds confidence and reduces downtime. Start with Mental Health First Aid at the right level, then keep it fresh.
- Tell the story. Share short wins on noticeboards and socials. Candidates look for proof, not promises.
How In-Comm can help
At In-Comm we partner with engineering and manufacturing employers to build safer, healthier, higher-performing teams. Our Vision and Values put accountability, integrity and inclusion at the centre. Our Be Well initiative means trained Mental Health First Aiders are available across our academies, with a clear promise to listen, support and signpost.
If you want to upskill your team quickly, choose from the following Mental Health First Aid options and build the right coverage for your shifts:
- Awareness of First Aid for Mental Health
Half day. Build confidence across teams. Recognise common conditions, start supportive conversations and know when to escalate. - First Aid for Mental Health
One day. Learn the first aid action plan for mental health, how to manage stress and how to signpost to professional help. - Supervising First Aid for Mental Health Two days. Equip managers and supervisors to implement a positive mental health culture, recognise a wider range of conditions and support teams effectively.
Keep your response capability joined up with physical first aid where needed. Plan everything in one place via the First Aid hub: First Aid Courses.
The business case
Stress-related absence is costly, and male-dominated teams can face extra barriers to asking for help. Investing in training, clear pathways and practical workload fixes pays back in steadier operations, safer sites and stronger retention.
Level up your team with focused, practical Mental Health First Aid training delivered by industry experts in Aldridge and Telford. Book via the First Aid hub: First Aid Courses.