Every working day in the UK, 2 construction workers take their own lives.

Not 2 a week. Not 2 a month. Every. Single. Day.

Per the Office for National Statistics, construction workers are nearly 4x more likely to die by suicide than the national average. 73% say they struggle with mental health every month. 87% have experienced anxiety. Yet per The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), only 56% work for companies that have a mental health policy in place at all.

We build everything around us – but too many of the people doing the building are falling apart quietly.

The reasons are well-documented: financial insecurity (57% of the workforce is self-employed), long stints away from home, relentless deadlines, a culture that still tells men to just get on with it. And when workers do struggle, substance abuse rates in construction are nearly double the national average.

This isn’t just a wellbeing issue. It’s a safety issue. According to Construction News, 1 in 5 workers has suffered a workplace injury because of poor mental health.

The good news? There are organisations fighting hard to change this.

The Lighthouse Charity – the only UK charity 100% dedicated to construction workers and their families. Free 24/7 helpline: 0345 605 1956. Free app. Free mental health first aid training.

Mates in Mind – raising awareness and tackling stigma across hundreds of organisations since 2017. Free text support: text BeAMate to 85258.

Band of Builders – the national construction charity providing practical, financial and wellbeing support for construction workers and their families facing illness, injury or crisis.

If you’re an employer in construction: post the helpline number on site. Deliver a toolbox talk on mental health. Train a Mental Health First Aider. Start the conversation.

If you’re struggling right now: call 0345 605 1956 – free, confidential, 24/7