Renewable energy firm Drax has introduced mental health training for staff to build the resilience of workers in rural Scottish locations.
Drax’s employees at Cruachan Power Station near Oban will work with provider Change Mental Health’s mental health training team over the next year.
They will receive bespoke training through quarterly learning workshops, training materials and learning assets. These will include understanding and managing stress, how to build resilience and support others, and avoiding burnout and finding balance. Review checkpoints will be completed to see how the training resonates with employees.
Drax is introducing the training so isolated teams can receive help with strengthening connections, community and peer support. It will also enable employees and contractors to develop the knowledge, skills and practical tools to support them in looking after both their own and their colleagues’ wellbeing.
This is intended to support contractors from Guyana and India who are working on an upgrade and refurbishment to the Cruachan Power Station, who may experience wellbeing challenges from working in rural Scotland away from their home and families.
Ian Kinnaird, FlexGen assets director at Drax, said: “We are proud to partner with Change Mental Health to bring the very best in wellbeing support to our colleagues at Cruachan Power Station. A career in the energy sector often means pressure to meet deadlines and targets, unusual working hours, and other challenges. Many of our contracting partners are working far away from home without their families, which can, of course, lead to feeling isolated or lonely.
“Drax recognises that supporting our colleagues’ mental health is just as important as their physical health. This new partnership will give our employees and contractors practical tools to support their own wellbeing, as well as their colleagues.”
