CHARITY EXPANDS SUPPORT TO UK CONSTRUCTION WORKERS

National builders’ charity Band of Builders has expanded the support it offers to tradespeople after figures indicated that the suicide rate amongst construction workers in the UK has increased for the fifth year in a row.

Figures from the team at Glasgow Caledonian University’s (GCU) Built Environment Asset Management (BEAM) Centre - in conjunction with the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity – found that the suicide rate for construction occupations in 2021 rose to 33.82 per 100,000. This figure has risen steadily from 25.52 per 100,000 in 2015 when the figures were first compiled.

In a bid to tackle the mental health crisis in the UK construction industry, a new free mental health and wellbeing platform has been launched that construction workers or their immediately families can use at any time to get help – thanks to the Big Brew, a campaign organised by Band of Builders.

The Big Brew is funding a partnership with Spectrum.Life, which will encourage tradespeople who are experiencing anxiety, depression, loneliness, relationship issues, self-harm, suicidal thoughts or any other trauma to take the all-important first step of seeking help.

Tradespeople can self-refer at any time through the charity’s website and receive confidential counselling via freephone, live chat, WhatsApp, SMS or a call back.