Why should struggling trade professionals turn to Onward Shift?

We put the questions to qualified electrician, Vishal Narbheram, CEO & Founder of Onward Shift, as we learn more about how his own personal struggles have led him to introduce a new mental health service for construction professionals.

Q. Tell us more about who you are and your background in the electrical industry.

My name is ‘Vish’ and I’m a qualified electrician of 15 years (time really does fly!). I still remember my first day on the tools being sent to find a glass hammer, which of course would only work with a left-handed screwdriver but not at the same time, for obvious reasons.

I’ve had the pleasure of working across residential, commercial and industrial sites during my career and have been on day rate and price work, undertaken both 12 hour day and night shifts, worked employed and self-employed and even pulled off a 265-day stint without a break between being on the tools for a firm and starting my own company.

Being an electrician hasn’t just been a job, it’s a passion and I still get my hands dirty most days of the week.

But, I also know the toll this industry can take on our mental health with long hours, chasing invoices, impossible deadlines, unorganised clients and, when life gets heavy, not having a place to turn to.

EAPs didn’t work for me, NHS waiting lists were too long and I didn’t feel comfortable going through charities. I wanted support – real support – but struggled to find a single place that could give it to me in the way I needed.

So now I’m on a new mission. As well as being on the tools, I’m building a self- funded mental health platform for the construction industry – Onward Shift.

Q. You’ve recently introduced the Onward Shift concept to the market. Why have you introduced this and what is it designed to do?

Here’s the truth: a friend of mine told me to read Ikigai by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles. At first, I thought, “great, another self-help book” but I gave it a go and weirdly, it changed everything. It helped me realise my purpose was to support people going through what I’d been through myself.

The idea for Onward Shift came to me in May of last year. Originally it was just going to be a notebook for journaling but since then, it’s evolved into something much bigger. Today, Onward Shift is a platform with 25 professionals who have deep experience in helping people battle through mental health struggles.

We’ve got specialist coaches, counsellors, keynote speakers and even a podcast for sharing real stories – from life- changing accidents and addiction to illness and financial advice. We also host walk-and-talk events in Colchester, run a check-in service via WhatsApp and publish blogs regularly. And yes, we still sell that original notebook too!

Q. Why is mental health provision such a personal subject to you?

Because I’ve struggled personally. A lot. It’s mentally quite hard to go back and re-live moments when answering these types of questions, but I’ll give it a go…

I’ve got ADHD and OCD – two conditions that silently shaped my life until I was finally diagnosed in my mid-to-late 20s. I’ve lived through crushing anxiety. I remember days when I couldn’t get out of bed, didn’t shower and basically lived off Coco Pops. There were nights I walked around at 2am just to calm my head.

Eventually, I saw a private therapist for nine months, with weekly sessions that genuinely helped me through the darkest bits. From there, I kept the therapy going and saw coaches and counsellors – from ADHD to nutritional specialists. I realised that the more I talked, the easier it got to speak. The quicker I sought help, the faster I recovered.

Currently, I don’t see anyone professionally but if I ever needed to again, I’d do so in a heartbeat.

Q. What barriers do you currently believe exist with other mental health services that may cause trade professionals to lose confidence in them?

Let’s look at the options:

NHS: Waiting lists that can stretch past a year.
Employer Assistance Programmes: Often feel like box-ticking exercises. Not always trusted.
Charities: Amazing work, but there can be stigmas attached. Some require forms and the support isn’t always immediate.
Private sector: Who can people trust? Is it legit? Are they even qualified?

Meanwhile, construction has a suicide rate that’s nearly four times higher than the national average. That’s nearly three people every working day who take their own life just in the UK.

We need a trusted space with no red tape, no judgment and no long delays. A lifeline people can actually reach for.

Q. How does Onward Shift work conceptually? Is it essentially a counselling service?

To simplify things, we ask individuals to look at Onward Shift as one place.

One place where you can book a coach or counsellor, listen to a podcast, read a blog, talk to someone on WhatsApp, come on a wellbeing walk or hear a speaker who’s walked the walk.

We’re not a faceless brand. We’re human trusted, reliable and, most importantly, there’s no judgment.

Q. How do trade professionals sign up to the service and what should they expect throughout the process?

It’s simple. You head over to the Onward Shift website and see what service you’re interested in. To help with this process, I’ve written a blog for each service so that individuals can make an educated choice. You then pick a specialist, ping us an email with your availability, and we’ll handle the rest.

I’m also building a full online booking system, so eventually you won’t even need to send an email – just click, choose and go.

Q. What do you hope to achieve in the short and long term with this service?

Short term: I want to normalise asking for help. I want people to understand that it’s okay to reach out at any time – not just when you’re in crisis but before it gets to that point.

Long term: I want Onward Shift to last. Starting something is easy. Keeping it going is the real challenge. My goal is to build a platform that’s still helping the industry long after I’m gone.

Q. Do you have any final messages for readers who may be dealing with issues in silence?

If you’re struggling, just remember that you’re not alone:

97% of construction workers report high levels of stress
91% have felt overwhelmed
87% have experienced anxiety
59% haven’t felt able to speak about it

Those stats aren’t just numbers, they’re people like you and me. So if you need someone to talk to, but are not sure where to start, feel free to reach out. After all, that’s what Onward Shift is here for.