3t recently brought together industry professionals for a comprehensive mental health panel discussion at our Aberdeen facility, addressing the critical need for workplace mental health support in the energy sector.
The afternoon session on Thursday 3rd July featured six expert speakers who shared insights on mental health statistics, workplace solutions, and personal resilience strategies. Calum Lawrie, Key Account Manager at 3t, introduced the event, presenting striking statistics from Step Change in Safety that underscored the urgency of the discussion: 48% of UK oil and gas workers reported work-related mental health concerns, with workers aged 35-64 particularly fearful that seeking mental health support could impact their positions. The data revealed that only 1 in 4 workers feel safe raising mental health issues with a supervisor, while only 1 in 5 managers feel equipped to have mental health conversations.
Organisational Psychologist Anurag Rai explored concepts of mental fitness, resilience, and emotional intelligence, providing attendees with practical frameworks for understanding workplace mental health.
3t’s Managing Director Jamie Purves presented updates to 3t’s mental health training programs, demonstrating the company’s commitment to evolving support systems.
Graham Skinner, OEUK Health & Safety Manager, built on these findings with industry-wide mental health statistics specific to Scotland, highlighting how offshore work environments can amplify mental health challenges. He noted that studies show mental resilience declines after just two weeks away from home, while workers become increasingly isolated from their usual support networks including family, GPs, and counselors.
Ann C McCreath, Wood Delivery Manager OPS EMEA, shared best practices for implementing effective workplace mental health solutions, sharing the initiatives Wood has launched to support mental health discussions, including their Mental Health Charter.
Mike Scotland, mental health ambassador and founder of manUP, speakUP and community cleanUP rounded off the discussion with a compelling presentation on personal resilience, drawing from his own experiences.
The event included networking opportunities and refreshments, allowing attendees to continue discussions and build connections around this important topic.
Feedback from the session has been overwhelmingly positive, with one attendee commenting:
“It was such an insightful and thought-provoking event, and [we] were very grateful to have been there to listen. Calum was a brilliant host, please pass on a pat on the back from me!
The panel discussion represents part of ongoing industry efforts to address mental health challenges and create more supportive work environments across the energy sector.
Reflecting on the event, Jamie Purves said “The response to the event has been overwhelmingly positive, demonstrating the real appetite within our industry to address mental health challenges head-on. We’re proud to host these important conversations and remain dedicated to developing comprehensive mental health support programs that make a genuine difference for energy sector workers.”
As part of this drive, 3t has partnered with Anurag Rai to deliver mental health and wellbeing courses. Learn more about these courses here.