Band of Builders’ (BoB) text helpline has reportedly seen a 105.5% increase in messages after the launch of an initiative in October to take the mental health message to construction sites and estates teams across the UK.
The latest figures from the helpline show that texts about depression, financial difficulties or relationship issues accounted for 52.9% of messages. However, the number of cries for help from construction workers considering taking their own lives has decreased from 30.4% to 13.1% in the last three months.
The stats come at a notoriously worrying time of year, with a spike in calls and messages from people in construction seeking help – where the suicide rate is significantly higher than in other sectors.
Gavin Crane, CEO of BoB, said: “The fact that the number of messages to our text service has more than doubled in the last three months highlights the impact they [Hays, the recruitment specialist that spread awareness of the helpline] are having in signposting members of the construction community to that all-important first step in asking for help.
“It’s vital to keep signposting where construction worker can get help if they are struggling with their mental health: they can text BoB to 85258.”
The launch of the initiative was timed to coincide with World Mental Health Day in October, and all of Hays’ frontline staff have been visiting construction sites to discuss mental health with staff and to promote the work of BoB.
