With World Suicide Prevention Day taking place on Wednesday 10th September, façade access maintenance specialist GIND UK and its installation partner Integral Cradles are taking decisive action to address the construction industry’s devastating mental health crisis by launching a transformative staff ‘Wellbeing Time’ initiative.

The companies are using this significant day of awareness to shine a spotlight on the tragic and sobering statistic that construction workers are four times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, with middle-aged men (aged 35-54) representing the highest suicide rate demographic in the UK.

In response to these shocking statistics, both companies are proud to announce a pioneering wellbeing programme that provides employees with precious designated periods of free time to nurture their physical, mental, and emotional health outside of their daily work duties; creating space for healing, restoration, and personal care that is often overlooked in our fast-paced industry.

An industry crisis that demands action

GIND UK and Integral Cradles are proud supporters of Samaritans as corporate donors, contributing to the life-saving work the charity performs in suicide prevention and providing crucial emotional support to those in their darkest moments. World Suicide Prevention Day serves to highlight why this support is so desperately needed.

Kevin Walton, Managing Director of Integral Cradles and GIND UK, spoke with deep conviction about the urgent need for action:

“World Suicide Prevention Day serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent work we all need to do to protect and support mental health. We feel passionately about the tragic suicide statistics within the construction industry, particularly amongst men. The fact that construction workers face such disproportionate mental health challenges cannot be ignored. This is a crisis that demands urgent action from our sector.”

Time for health and wellbeing

Integral Cradles and GIND UK’s wellbeing programme offers staff several half-day periods beyond their statutory and contractual holiday entitlement, with senior management providing advance notification to allow employees to plan meaningful activities that support their overall health and wellness.

Kevin added: “As responsible employers, we have a moral duty to support our employees’ mental health and wellbeing through meaningful initiatives like this. We refuse to stand by and watch while our industry loses precious lives to preventable tragedies. Our staff are our most important asset, and their wellbeing affects not just their personal lives but our wider business community.”

Investing in employee wellbeing

The initiative responds to alarming findings from the CIPD Health and Wellbeing at Work Report 2023, which identified stress as one of the critical factors contributing to employee absences across UK workplaces. By proactively addressing employee wellbeing, both companies are taking meaningful steps to break the cycle of workplace stress and create a more supportive, caring environment.

“By providing dedicated time for employees to nurture their health, whether that’s engaging in exercise, or simply taking precious time for themselves and spending the time with their families, we’re making a serious investment in their long-term welfare and demonstrating that their lives truly matter to us,” Kevin explained.

The wellbeing programme reflects both companies’ established approach of prioritising their diverse workforce. With over half of their employees born outside the UK and 20% of Integral Cradles’ staff being female (including a third of its management team), the firms have consistently championed inclusive workplace practices that support every individual.

“Our wellbeing initiative is just one part of our commitment to creating a workplace where staff feel genuinely valued, deeply supported, and completely safe to reach out for help when they need it most,” Kevin said. “Every single life matters, and we want our employees to know they are never alone in their struggles.”

As leaders in the façade access industry, both companies recognise that employee wellbeing is fundamental to maintaining their high standards of safety and quality.

The initiative will be implemented across both companies’ operations, ensuring all team members have equal access to wellbeing support regardless of their role or seniority level. Management teams will work with individual employees to schedule wellbeing periods that align with both personal needs and project requirements.

A call to action for the construction industry

As World Suicide Prevention Day approaches, both companies are calling on other construction industry employers to recognise the severity of the mental health crisis and take concrete action to support their workforce.

“We hope our initiative will inspire others in the construction industry to prioritise mental health and show their employees that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.” Kevin concluded.

Supporting resources

Employees experiencing mental health difficulties are encouraged to contact:

• Samaritans: 116 123 (free, 24/7 helpline)
• CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably): 0800 58 58 58
• Mind: 0300 123 3393