Free suicide prevention training for construction workers launched

New digital training aiming to increase awareness and reduce suicide amongst sole traders and self-employed construction workers launches ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September).

This prevention focused digital training has been designed to address the challenges of this hard-to-reach group of construction workers who are often most at risk of mental ill-health and who might otherwise be unable to engage with mental health interventions. 

Nearly two thirds of construction workers regularly experience stress and half experience anxiety. Most concerningly, nearly a third of construction workers have experienced thoughts of suicide at some point (Chartered Institute of Building). This underpins the harsh reality that workers in construction are at some of the highest risk of suicide in the country, at 3.7 times higher than the national average (ONS).

While working in construction provides many with great opportunities, the shocking statistics regarding the mental health of those working in this critical sector are the reason Mates in Mind, in partnership with the Baton of Hope, developed this suicide prevention training. Mates in Mind is a partner of The Royal Foundation’s National Suicide Prevention Network, a four nations initiative launched last year to strengthen access, collaboration and innovation across suicide prevention. The project is funded by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales.

Karen Hodgson, Associate Director at The Royal Foundation, said: “This initiative is an excellent example of how collaboration can drive meaningful change. We are proud to support two of the National Suicide Prevention Network partners as they work together to create and deliver this innovative training. Improving awareness and education around mental health and suicide prevention are important aims of the Network. This work will make a real difference to those working in such a critical sector.” 

Mates in Mind research found that the mental health of self-employed construction workers and those working in small firms show that intense workloads, financial problems, poor work-life balance and pressures on the supply of materials, are combining to significantly raise stress and anxiety to severe levels. 

But the Department for Work and Pensions found that, ‘Only 21 per cent of SMEs provide training for line managers on ways to improve employees’ health and wellbeing, compared to 76 per cent of large employers. While smaller businesses often have less capacity to offer this kind of training, with tighter budgets and fewer dedicated HR resources, the evidence is encouraging: among SMEs that have been able to provide such training, 79 per cent report it is effective in preventing employee ill health.’

The SME Wellbeing Index found that cost was a primary hurdle impacting 33 per cent of small and medium sized firms, whilst for 18 per cent a lack of internal resources and time was a more challenging barrier.
 
Therefore, this new digital first training aims to solve the challenges these workers face. Being free to access, it is not restricted to those that can afford it, and being digital means the modules can be accessed by any member of the team, anywhere, at any time, via a mobile phone or laptop. 

Mates in Mind has been advocating for a prevention approach to mental health since 2017 and this new intervention is part of that ongoing work. The training, consisting of two modules (suicide awareness and suicide prevention), is part of a comprehensive package to increase mental health literacy, improve help seeking and end the stigma of mental ill-health. These three interventions are important elements in reducing the mental health risks identified in the ‘Support Factors Hazard’ of the Construction Leadership Council’s new Mental Health in Construction Joint Code of Practice (JCoP), meaning this new training intervention is aligned to the Code. Mates in Mind was part of the JCoP Project Steering Group. 

“By training workers to recognise the signs of mental ill-health, as well as when someone might be experiencing thoughts of suicide, in both themselves and those working around them, it will empower workers with the skills and confidence to start conversations and signpost support before someone reaches crisis point. And this is at the heart of our charitable mission: supporting organisations, whatever their size, in higher risk sectors to create environments and cultures that promote positive mental health because everyone matters.” Samantha Downie, Managing Director, Mates in Mind.

The free training can also be accessed via the Mates in Mind website: https://bit.ly/MinM-WSPD26 . 

Co-founder of the Baton of Hope Mike McCarthy said: “The focus on physical safety over many years has brought about significant improvements and undoubtedly saved lives. This initiative aims to do the same for mental wellbeing and psychological safety. Workers will learn how to maintain their own mental fitness and to recognise how to identify workmates who may be feeling suicidal. Many people are uncertain or afraid when it comes to helping others who may be going through emotional trauma. There should be no mystery about this. Learning about how to deal with it might well save someone else’s life or even your own.”

~ END ~

Notes to Editor

• Mates in Mind is one of the Innovation Partners in the National Suicide Prevention Network of The Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
• The Mates in Mind research also recommended that larger employers extend their mental health and wellbeing interventions to their supply chains. Our Champions Programme was created to provide a solution to this challenge.  
• As part of our World Suicide Prevention Day campaign, we have created a suite of resources, including a suicide prevention and a post-suicide response guide, an infographic, two videos and a poster.  
• The post-suicide response guide was created following our involvement in the development of BS 30480 Suicide and the Workplace standard.

About The Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales

The Prince and Princess of Wales and The Royal Foundation lead with the belief that change is always possible and are committed to building innovative, collaborative and optimistic solutions that deliver positive impact where it matters most. Together, Their Royal Highnesses and The Royal Foundation have an unparalleled ability to take a long-term view and unite people, ideas and resources; inspiring action to deliver meaningful change for a better future for individuals, communities, society and our planet.

About the National Suicide Prevention Network: The Royal Foundation launched the National Suicide Prevention Network, founded on the hope and belief that, working together, we can do much more to prevent over 7,000 deaths that are caused by suicide in the UK every year. The Network brings together pioneering organisations from across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, who are delivering innovative mental health support where it is needed most.

For more information on The Royal Foundation and its programmes of work, please visit: https://royalfoundation.com/ 

About The Baton of Hope

The Baton of Hope UK is a national registered charity dedicated to suicide prevention.

Through a series of bespoke training packages and UK tours we both raise awareness and promote tangible change to help save lives.
Following generations of silence, stigma and stagnation, we seek to change outdated attitudes through bespoke, highly approved education packages and professionally qualified trainers. 

The Baton of Hope is a member of the National Suicide Prevention Network of The Royal Foundation and has been endorsed at the highest levels of business and politics.

About Mates in Mind

At Mates in Mind, we advocate for building positive mental health in and through work. We do this through working collaboratively with organisations of any size to create a culture of prevention by focusing on evidence-informed primary and secondary interventions. We recommend that organisations educate, train and support all employees across the whole workforce to ensure everyone has the skills, clarity and confidence on how to raise awareness, improve understanding, implement effective interventions, end the stigma of mental ill-health, and to ensure there is a continuous and comprehensive solution in place so that no-one reaches crisis point and mental health awareness becomes everyone’s responsibility.

Mates in Mind is an Innovation Partner in the National Suicide Prevention Network of The Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

In 2026, Mates in Mind was awarded the ‘Leaders in Suicide Prevention for High-Risk Sectors 2026 – UK’ in the GHP Mental Health Awards.