{"id":470102,"date":"2022-12-02T06:50:09","date_gmt":"2022-12-02T06:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/?p=470102"},"modified":"2022-12-01T16:52:24","modified_gmt":"2022-12-01T16:52:24","slug":"new-welfare-initiative-launched-as-suicide-rate-rises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/health-and-safety\/mind-matters\/new-welfare-initiative-launched-as-suicide-rate-rises-02-12-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"New welfare initiative launched as suicide rate rises"},"content":{"rendered":"

The number of suicides in the construction sector has risen to its highest level in at least five years, as a new industry initiative launches to tackle the issue.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to an analysis of Office for National Statistics figures by the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity and Professor Billy Hare at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), 507 deaths by suicide were reported among construction workers in 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n

Construction operatives are nearly four times more likely to take their own lives than those working in other sectors.<\/span><\/p>\n

There were 34 suicides per 100,000 workers in the construction sector in 2021 \u2013 the highest number since GCU started its analysis work in 2017.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2020, official figures show that 483 people took their own lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

The analysis also points to an increase in the number of suicides across white collar, blue collar and elementary construction occupations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lighthouse chief executive Bill Hill said the industry had made \u201chuge strides\u201d to improve the wellbeing of workers, but that messages of mental health support were \u201cnot reaching the boots on the ground\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFinancial insecurity is a major factor for poor wellbeing in our workforce, and the pandemic added greater anxiety and emotional burden,\u201d he added. \u201cWe all have a moral responsibility and an economic imperative to work together to improve the wellbeing and welfare of our workers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

If you or someone you know is struggling and needs help<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Lighthouse construction industry helpline can be called for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on 03456 051956 in the UK and 1800 939 122 in the Republic of Ireland. Construction workers and their families and friends in the UK can also text HARDHAT to 85258 to access anonymous and confidential help immediately via text, and 50808 in the Republic of Ireland.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, contact the Samaritans\u2019 helpline on 166 123.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Construction Leadership Council has asked Lighthouse and the Mates in Mind charity to work together to chair a major wellbeing programme in construction, which will include initiatives to reduce stigma, break down barriers and increase awareness of support services.<\/span><\/p>\n

The initiative will look to work with organisations including the Health and Safety Executive, the Construction Industry Training Board, contractors and trade associations to improve the wellbeing of construction workers. It will be called Make It Visible.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mates In Mind managing director Sarah Meek said: \u201cThese latest statistics demonstrate that we need to do more as an industry to prevent people reaching the point of crisis, by addressing the causes that negatively impact on one\u2019s mental health and thereby reduce the need for safety nets.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith positive moves already beginning [and] mental health starting to feature in frameworks, we must continue building on this and encourage conversations around how contracts are both procured and awarded, to address some of the factors that can have such a detrimental effect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Construction News<\/span><\/i>\u2019 Mind Matters survey,<\/span> carried out earlier this year, received 1,200 responses from the industry<\/span><\/a>. Nearly six in 10 respondents said they had not received the appropriate level of support from their managers when facing mental health issues. Meanwhile, nearly three in four people said they felt there was a stigma around mental health in construction.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The number of suicides in the construction sector has risen to its highest level in at least five years, as a new industry initiative launches to tackle the issue. According to an analysis of Office for National Statistics figures by the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity and Professor Billy Hare at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), 507 …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90643,"featured_media":438589,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[577],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n