IRELAND: Men in construction sectors “account for half of male suicides”
May 08, 2015
An in-depth study in Ireland’s Cork County showed recently that about half of the men who had died by suicide in that county had worked in the construction industry. Drawing on this finding, a national trade organization for construction workers has formed a partnership with Pieta House, a suicide prevention center, to launch a campaign intended to reach construction workers across Ireland with messages about mental health and encouragement to seek help. “Given the amount of time people spend in the workplace,” said Tom Parlon, director general of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), “that is where the Mind Our Workers campaign will focus. By promoting a more open approach amongst construction workers and their colleagues we hope it might reduce the number of people who feel they have no way out.” The campaign will include the distribution of educational materials and events for CIF members, with presentations by experts from Pieta House.
Spark Extra! Read the Mind Our Workers report on suicide by men in the construction trades in Ireland.