A free digital suicide prevention training course for sole traders and self-employed construction staff has been launched by the UK charity Mates in Mind, in partnership with the Baton of Hope. While the organisation is UK based the programme is good anywhere where English is spoken.
Men working in construction face some of the highest suicide rates of any sector at 3.7 times the national average, according to the ONS. A Chartered Institute of Building survey also found that nearly a third of construction workers have experienced suicidal thoughts, while two thirds report regular stress and half report anxiety. While the course is useful/helpful for anyone in the sector, it is aimed at self-employed people and small firms, who often have less access to workplace mental health support than those working for larger companies.
It consists of two modules - suicide awareness and suicide prevention - aimed at helping staff recognise warning signs in themselves and colleagues, and reach support in good time. While it is changing, the industry /jobsite remains a fairly masculine area and can also be a macho one, where talking about such things is seen - or thought to be seen as a sign of weakness, while in reality it is a sign of strength.
Mates in Mind managing director Samantha Downie said: By training staff 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."
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