FMB urges builders to reach out on World Suicide Prevention Day

​​​​​​​The builders’ association is committed to breaking the silence, raising awareness, and encouraging people to ask for help

With the construction sector still being the most affected by suicides, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is using this World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) to encourage builders to seek help if they are struggling.

The industry continues to face a disproportionate mental health crisis, and the FMB is committed to breaking the silence, raising awareness, and encouraging people to ask for help. 

Recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and other sources indicate that suicide rates in the construction sector are substantially above the national average.

Construction workers in the UK are about three to four times more likely to die by suicide compared to the general population. In England and Wales, provisional ONS data indicated that 355 people working in skilled construction trades died by suicide in 2024.

Over the past decade, it is estimated that 7,000 construction workers have taken their own lives. 

The industry's suicide rate stands at roughly 29.1 deaths per 100,000 workers, compared to a national average of around 9.6 per 100,000.

This high rate is linked to long and irregular working hours, job insecurity, high-pressure environments, and a culture that often fails to encourage seeking mental health support.  

The theme (WSPD) is dedicated to raising awareness about people taking their own lives: “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” highlights the importance of having open conversations, removing the stigma, and encouraging support-seeking behaviours within communities and workplaces.  

Brian Berry, CEO of the Federation of Master Builders, said: "The pressures faced by construction workers can be overwhelming, but no one should face their struggles alone. Every death is a tragedy, and at the FMB, we want every builder and industry professional not to be afraid of reaching out if they need help. There is strength in asking for support.”