Mark is available for interview - contactmark@equalengineers.comor 07877089036.
Potential content for World Mental Health Day on Thursday 10thOctober 2019.
PRESS RELEASE: EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 ON 3rdOCTOBER 2019
ENGINEERING SECTOR FACING MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY
A report, published today by inclusion consultancy EqualEngineers, has found that one in five engineers have lost a work colleague to suicide. Over a fifth (22.5%) of engineers have considered suicide or self-harm, with men 3.5 times more likely to have said so.
These alarming statistics to come from the Masculinity in Engineering survey, which surveyed over 800 engineers in the UK. One respondent reported that: ‘Masculinity is a prison and a prize, strictly required of men but still more heavily penalised in women.'
EqualEngineers, who work to make the engineering more inclusive, believes that these findings show the dangerous affect that the lack of inclusion and support for mental health is having in the sector.
Key findings from the survey include:
Over a third (37.2%) of engineers would describe their mental health as fair or poor, and over a fifth have had to take time off work because of it.
Less than a third of engineers believe the culture they work in is diverse (32.3%) or feel included in it (31.2%).
Both genders agree overwhelmingly that men are under pressure to behave in certain ways, and that society's expectations of men can be unrealistic.
Mark McBride-Wright, Founder & Managing Director of EqualEngineers says:
"Engineering is a traditionally male, white dominated sector. It can be very lonely, if you feel even a little bit ‘different' to the supposed ‘norm'."
"The Masculinity in Engineering Report shows that inclusivity in the workplace is a health and safety issue. Not being able to be open about who you are, because of attitudes and lack of diversity around you can lead to mental health issues and decreased wellbeing. We need to create a culture where men can be vulnerable, and can understand their own diversity story. We do not have this in our male-majority industry, and we need to work to bring down the psychological barriers preventing it."
The report makes recommendations for the sector, including increased parity between the importance physical safety and good mental health, modelling flexible working at senior level and highlighting the ‘toxic' in toxic masculinity.
‘Men must be emboldened to be able to proudly define their own masculinity, and be reconciled with the idea that masculinity in itself is not negative at all, but that it is specific traits and behaviours, associated with a toxic, hyper-competitive, macho culture that must disappear to make way for healthy, diverse and inclusive work environments for all.'
EqualEngineers believes engineering organisations, institutions and membership bodies need to work together for a concerted focus on tackling mental ill health. The content from the report will be discussed at a panel on Masculinity at the Equality in Engineering conference, taking place in London on October 4th 2019.
Read the full Masculinity in Engineering report here: http://bit.ly/EqEngMasculinityReport2019>>
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Social media accounts: @EqualEngineers @MarkMcBW
Hashtags: #EqualEngineers #MasculinityinEng
Mark is available for interview - contactmark@equalengineers.comor 07877089036. Coverage of report will happen at theEquality in Engineering Conferencein London on 4thOctober.
Potential content for World Mental Health Day on Thursday 10thOctober 2019
Notes to Editors
About EqualEngineers
EqualEngineers was set up to make the Engineering & Technology sectors more diverse and inclusive. Their belief is that the sector lacks in diversity and inclusion of under-represented groups, which is proven to increase performance, growth and innovation, as well as improve health, safety and wellbeing. EqualEngineers provides a solution to this through training, consultancy, recruitment, media and events.
About Dr Mark McBride-Wright CEng MIChemE
Mark McBride-Wright, PhD, CEng, IChemE is a recognised diversity and inclusion leader. He is Founder and Managing Director of EqualEngineers, a company focused on connecting inclusive employers with diverse talent in the engineering and technology sectors and offering a wide array of D&I consultancy services alongside annual careers fairs and networking events. He is also Chair and Co-Founder of InterEngineering, a non-profit industry body that connects, informs and empowers LGBT+ engineers and supporters with a membership of over 1,000 engineers across 6 regional groups across the UK. Mark is Founding Member of the Diversity and Inclusion Working Group for the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), External Advisor to the Metropolitan Police, sitting on their Strategic Inclusion Diversity & Equality (STRIDE) Board, Diversity Board Member for the University of Kent, and Advisory Member to the Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
In recognition of his diversity work, Mark won the coveted 'Corporate Rising Star' award at the 2016 British LGBT Awards and was ranked #2 in the 2015 Financial Times Future LGBT Leaders list (#6 in 2016). In addition, he was 'Highly Commended' at the Inclusive Networks Awards (2015), shortlisted for the 'Corporate Equality Award' by PinkNews (2016), and is a regular speaker at the London Business School. He has worked with many Fortune 50 companies on D&I programs and talent engagement strategies and has also authored a white paper for the UK Government on tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in engineering. Mark is a Chartered Engineer (IChemE) by training with a focus on health and safety, having worked at KBR Inc (2013-2017) and ERM (2012-2013) before pursuing his work in diversity. He also holds a doctorate (PhD) in chemical engineering at Imperial College London (2009-2013).
Awards & Accolades
- Winner 2016 "Corporate Rising Star" British LGBT Awards
- #2 in 2015 Financial Times Future LGBT Leaders list (#6 2016)
- Shortlisted, "Young Chemical Engineer in Industry", 2016 IChemE Global Awards
- InterEngineering, "Highly Commended" at 2015 Inclusive Networks Awards
- InterEngineering, Shortlisted for "LGBT Community Group of the Year", 2016 National Diversity Awards
- InterEngineering, Shortlisted "Corporate Equality Award", 2016 PinkNews Awards
About the Equality in Engineering Conference
The Equality in Engineering Conference is organised by EqualEngineers in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Engineering & Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB).
It features workshops and panel discussions on other topics ranging from the current ‘state of the nation' to addressing hidden minorities, supporting neurodiverse people in the workplace, and disconnecting from the digital world.
Speakers at the conference include:
- Dr Hayaatun Sillem FIET, Chief Executive, Royal Academy of Engineering
- Kate Everitt, Health & Safety Director, GKN Aerospace
- Jenna Randall, Diversity Advisor, Business in the Community
- Laura Willis, Founder, Shine Offline
- Louise Lawrence, Co-founder, Autism Unravelled
- Bertie Van Wyk, Senior Accounts Manager, Herman Miller
- Martin Coyd OBE, Head of Health & Safety (Construction), Mace
- Professor Sara Rankin, Head Regenerative Pharmacology Group, Imperial College London
- Fiona Jackson, Former Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Employer Branding, EDF Energy
The conference takes place 4th October at The Crystal, Royal Victoria Dock, One Siemens Brothers Way, Royal Docks, London E16 1GB.
For more information, go to www.equalengineers.com/conference-2019