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When “busy” becomes the baseline

  • 3 days ago
  • 2 min read

By Jo Baber, Mental Heath First Aider | 11-5-26






In operational industries, people get used to being busy. There is always something happening, whether it is a site issue, a client update, a deadline, a handover, or something that needs checking before the end of the day.




The difficult bit is that after a while, busy starts to feel normal.


That is where I think workplace mental health can get missed. Not because people don’t care, but because the signs are often quite ordinary. Someone is a bit quieter than usual. They are making small mistakes they wouldn’t normally make. They seem tired, distracted, or a little more short-tempered. Nothing dramatic, just not quite themselves.


In 2024/25, HSE reported 964,000 workers suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety in Great Britain, which shows how common this has become across workplaces.  


In sectors like engineering, construction and energy, the pressure can be very practical. Long days, deadlines, responsibility, travel, site work, and the feeling that problems need solving quickly. Research into construction and engineering has also highlighted burnout risks linked to demanding workloads, tight deadlines and high-pressure environments.  


That is why support at work needs to be more practical too.


It is not always about having a big conversation. Sometimes it starts with noticing a change, asking a normal question, and making it easier for someone to say they are not doing brilliantly.


Mental Health First Aid training is one way workplaces can build that confidence. It helps people spot signs of poor mental health, start conversations, and signpost someone towards the right support.  


The more people in a workplace who understand what to look for, the less likely it is that someone struggles quietly in the background.


If you are interested in becoming a Mental Health First Aider, you can find training through MHFA England here and then sign up to become an AMP Trust Mental Health First Aider


Because we care.



Image by Danist Soh

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About the authors
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Darren Lewis
Managing Director


Darren is responsible for all operational aspects of our service provision. This includes site survey, workflow, training and the assessment, onboarding and development of our contract partners. With 25 Years in Electrical Installation and PV, there is a huge amount of industry change that he has been an integral part of and his approach is that every day brings a new opportunity for further process improvement.

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Stuart Spiers
Managing Director

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Stuart has direct responsibility for all technical, including, monitoring, reporting, analysis, inspections and testing. Stuart has a diverse background that spans over 25 years in PV and Renewable and Project Management across large-scale commercial construction, demolition and water supply.

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