World Suicide Prevention Day 2026: Briefing Takeaways

As we mark World Suicide Prevention Day, our recent Suicide Awareness and Prevention Breakfast Briefing brought together construction leaders, professionals, clients and wellbeing experts to explore one of the most urgent challenges facing our industry: how we can do more to prevent suicide and support people’s mental health.

The session focused on the important message, suicide prevention is a people issue, and creating meaningful change requires action from everyone across the construction sector.

With two construction workers taking their own lives every working day across the UK and Ireland, the need for greater awareness, earlier intervention and more open conversations could not be clearer.

Understanding the pressures

The first session featured Dr Luke Hands, who shared findings from his research into mental health within construction.

Drawing on research involving more than 450 construction workers, Luke explored how the working environment can influence mental health and wellbeing.

What we learnt:

Workplace pressures can have a significant impact on mental health.
Long hours, job insecurity, demanding schedules and working away from home can all contribute to stress, anxiety and poor mental wellbeing.

The working environment matters.
Mental health isn't separate from the workplace. The culture, expectations and conditions people experience every day can directly influence how they feel.

Positive interventions can make a measurable difference.
Understanding the pressures people face gives organisations an opportunity to introduce practical changes that support better mental health outcomes.

Building Confidence to Start the Conversation

Joann Hitchen from LivingWorks explored how we can equip people with the confidence and skills to recognise warning signs, start conversations and connect others with appropriate support.

Suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility.
Creating a safer environment means giving people across the industry the knowledge and confidence to recognise when someone may be struggling and know how to respond.

Starting the conversation matters.
Openly asking someone about their wellbeing, including whether they may be thinking about suicide, can create an opportunity for honest conversation and help someone access the support they need.

Knowing what to do next is just as important.
Building confidence around suicide prevention means knowing how to respond when someone opens up and where to direct them for further support.

Knowing Where to Turn

Cadena Sampson from Lighthouse Charity highlighted the importance of making sure people working in construction, and their families, know that support is available when they need it.

No one should have to suffer in silence.
Creating a culture where people feel able to speak openly about what they are going through is an important part of suicide prevention. That means making conversations about mental health and wellbeing more normal and ensuring people know where they can turn for help.

Support is there for more than just mental health.
Lighthouse provides support across emotional, physical and financial wellbeing, recognising that different pressures can affect how someone feels and cope day to day.

Knowing where to turn can make asking for help easier.
Making support visible and accessible across the industry can help people take that first step, whether they need someone to talk to, practical support or help for their family.

Turning awareness into action

The session concluded with a challenge to everyone in the room - commit to one action that could improve wellbeing within your organisation.

That action could be big or small:

Introducing regular wellbeing check-ins
Providing mental health or suicide prevention training for managers
Making support services more visible and accessible
Creating more opportunities for open conversations
Taking the time to check in with a colleague who may be struggling
Reviewing how your organisation approaches suicide prevention

The important thing is to start.

Conclusion

Suicide prevention starts with awareness, but meaningful change comes through action.

The construction industry has shown what is possible when it commits to improving safety. We now have an opportunity to apply that same determination to mental health and wellbeing.

Creating workplaces where people feel supported, valued and able to ask for help won't happen through a single initiative. It requires continued conversations, practical action and leadership at every level.

This World Suicide Prevention Day, let's turn awareness into action because one conversation, one intervention or one moment of support could help save a life.

Find out more about today's speakers and support available:

Lighthouse Charity - emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support for construction workers and their families
LivingWorks - suicide prevention training and resources
BS 30480 - guidance for organisations on suicide risk in workplace settings

#StartTheConversation