The Wellbeing in Construction Forum brings together academia, industry, and people with lived experience to discuss initiatives and move forward the wellbeing agenda in construction.  It aims to reduce the rate of suicide in this industry, improve mental health, as well as tackle social value. 

Social value in the construction sector

The figures on suicide in construction mean that something needs to be done. Male construction professionals are three times more likely to die by suicide compared to the national UK average for males. Stress levels are high in construction, and about a third of self-employed construction workers experience high levels of anxiety, according to a 2020/21 study done by Mates in Mind and the Institute of Employment Studies.  Factors contributing to this include high workload and financial pressures.  In addition, people are often working away from home; there is job uncertainty and low job control - factors such as these can increase the risk of poor mental health and suicide.  

To address this, we are bringing together professionals across the board to find solutions for improving mental health and overall wellbeing, as well as tackle social value in the context of construction.   

Selected publications

Dykxhoorn, J., Fischer, L., Bayliss, B. et al. Conceptualising public mental health: development of a conceptual framework for public mental health. BMC Public Health 22, 1407 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13775-9