According to a new report, construction workers are four times more likely to di3 by su!cide than the national average, making it one of the most dangerous professions in terms of mental health issues.
On The Tools, a social media company and the UK’s largest community of tradespeople, discovered that 73% of the country’s 2.1 million construction workers have been affected by mental illness. Over the past decade, 7,000 construction workers have taken their own lives.
Alice Brooks, the company’s brand manager, commented, “If doctors or teachers were seeing those rates of su!cide in any other industry, I think there would be a national outcry. But because it’s construction, I think people don’t necessarily have the best perception of tradespeople, it’s being ignored.”
“When four times the number of people are dying by su!cide – who will build our hospitals, who will build our schools, maintain our roads and infrastructure?”
The company is trying to raise £2.5m to fund counselling for workers in the industry.
James Reeves, 33, who runs Royal Spa Decoration in Leamington Spa, told Sky News how he had contemplated su!cide after suffering inj_ries to his back and pelvis in an accident while painting and decorating, then had his tools, worth £2,500 st0len.
“One of the worst pressures was financial”, James explained.
“I had guys working for me on payroll, I had to earn a certain amount to make a profit every month, you can imagine if you’re off work for three months and unable to meet those numbers, meet those deadlines it doesn’t take long before you find yourself in a hole financially.
