Construction professionals are four times more susceptible to suicide than the national average, rendering it one of the most perilous occupations for mental health issues in the UK, as per a recent report.
On The Tools, the largest community of tradespeople in the UK, discovered that 73% of the nation’s 2.1 million construction experts have experienced mental health challenges.
Over the past ten years, 7,000 individuals have ended their own lives.
“If physicians or educators were encountering these suicide statistics in any other sector, there would undoubtedly be a widespread public outcry,” stated Alice Brooks, the brand manager of the company.
“However, since it’s the construction field, I believe there’s a lack of positive perception toward tradespeople, leading to a neglect of the issue.”
‘These suicide rates in any other industry would cause a national outcry,’ says Alice Brooks
“When four times the number of individuals are succumbing to suicide, who will construct our hospitals, build our schools, or maintain our roads and infrastructure?”
The organization is attempting to raise £2.5 million to provide counseling services for industry workers.
James Reeves, 33, owner of Royal Spa Decoration in Leamington Spa, shared with Sky News his thoughts on suicide after enduring injuries to his back and pelvis from an accident while working as a painter and decorator, coupled with the theft of his tools, valued at £2,500.
‘For a long time, the thought of ending my life consumed my every waking moment’
Mr. Reeves sustained injuries to his back and pelvis from an accident while working as a painter and decorator
“One of the most significant strains was financial hardship,” James elaborated.
“I had employees on payroll, and I needed to generate a certain income to maintain profitability each month. You can imagine the situation when you’re out of work for three months and unable to meet those financial targets—it’s not long before you find yourself in a significant financial predicament.”
“Personally, I felt like a failure to everyone surrounding me, and the only way out seemed to be to vanish.”
James added: “For an extended period, the thought of taking my own life dominated my every waking moment, and I often woke up believing that today would be the day I would end my life. It took a significant amount of time to escape that mindset, but I was fortunate enough to do so, whereas many others are not as lucky.”
The report indicated that absences from work due to mental health issues are costing the industry £2.7 billion annually.
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Ms. Brooks emphasized: “When you take isolation into account—many workers in this sector operate alone or are self-employed, leading to feelings of loneliness.”
“Then add financial strains along with industry-specific pressures like tool theft—we found that 68% of tradespeople worry incessantly about the risk of tool theft, indicating that these broader stressors significantly impact those in the profession.”
Individuals experiencing emotional distress or thoughts of suicide can reach out for help by calling Samaritans at 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the United States, please call the Samaritans branch in your locality or dial 1 (800) 273-TALK.
