Construction suicide rates on the increase

The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity commissioned Glasgow Caledonian University to research suicide statistics from 2015 to 2019. Alarming results show suicides increased in construction.

Analysis of suicides by job showed the number per 100,000 for construction workers rose from 26 to 29 between 2015 and 2019.

The overall ratio stayed the same. Construction industry workers are three times more likely to take their own life than people in other sectors.

The findings also identified variations between certain occupational groups.

People working in non-manual occupations, like managers and professionals, have lower rates. This group also saw an overall drop in rate from under 7 in 2015, to under 5 per 100,000 in 2019.

However, unskilled workers, such as labourers, have seen their rate rise. As a result, they’ve increased from 48 to over 73 suicides per 100,000.

Bill Hil, CEO of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity said, “It is worrying that our support is not reaching the ‘boots on the ground’ workforce. This could be because about 53% of our workforce are self employed, agency or zero hour contractors and we are simply not getting our message down the supply chain. Even more worrying, is that these statistics are pre-pandemic so the full impact of this won’t be revealed until further data is released in October of this year.

About The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity

The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity provides free emotional and wellbeing support through three main channels:

• A free 24/7 Construction Industry Helpline
• A supporting helpline app
• Free wellbeing training

Now, the charity is upping its support in immediate response to the research findings. It is now even more proactive initiatives to ensure no construction worker or their family feels alone in a crisis.

Read this story in full along with more information on their pro-active initiatives to help tackle this crisis.