Night Shifts and Mental Health

There are a few steps you can take to make working at night easier for your mental health…

• Make sure to talk to your family and friends about your shift and help them understand the problems you might face. If they know what to expect, they can help you as much as they can.
  
  
• Let your family and friends know about your shift schedule in advance. Then they will be able to plan social activities to include you and make the most of your time together. Making time for your family will give you something to look forward to during more difficult nights.
  
  
• On a night shift, everyone is in the same boat. Watch out for each other. If you see anyone who you think might be struggling, talk to them and see if you can help out.
  
  
• If you think you need to talk to someone, people are always there to support you. Your supervisor will listen to you in confidence and can help you manage your workload more flexibly. We can make adjustments to help you, but only if you let us understand what you need.
  
  
• If you don't feel able to talk to your supervisor, there are a number of confidential services you can turn to. The construction industry charity Mates in Mind lists a number of helplines and support services that can provide support around the clock.