Mental health at work charity Mates in Mind has launched new digital training aimed at increasing awareness and reducing suicide amongst sole traders and self-employed construction workers ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September.

This prevention-focused digital training has been designed to address the challenges of this hard-to-reach group of construction workers who are often most at risk of mental ill-health and who might otherwise be unable to engage with mental health interventions. 

Mates in Mind research into the mental health of self-employed construction workers and those working in small firms show that intense workloads, financial problems, poor work-life balance and pressures on the supply of materials, are combining to significantly raise stress and anxiety to severe levels. 

Therefore, this new digital-first training aims to solve the challenges these workers face. Being free to access, it is not restricted to those that can afford it, and being digital means the modules can be accessed by any member of the team, anywhere, at any time, via a mobile phone or laptop. 

Mates in Mind has been advocating for a prevention approach to mental health since 2017 and this new intervention is part of that ongoing work. The training, consisting of two modules (suicide awareness and suicide prevention), is part of a comprehensive package to increase mental health literacy, improve help seeking and end the stigma of mental ill-health. These three interventions are important elements in reducing the mental health risks identified in the ‘Support Factors Hazard’ of the Construction Leadership Council’s new Mental Health in Construction Joint Code of Practice (JCoP), meaning this new training intervention is aligned to the Code. 

“By training workers to recognise the signs of mental ill-health, as well as when someone might be experiencing thoughts of suicide, in both themselves and those working around them, it will empower workers with the skills and confidence to start conversations and signpost support before someone reaches crisis point. And this is at the heart of our charitable mission: supporting organisations, whatever their size, in higher risk sectors to create environments and cultures that promote positive mental health because everyone matters.” Samantha Downie, managing director, Mates in Mind.

The free training can be accessed via the Mates in Mind website: https://www.matesinmind.org/training-and-resources/world-suicide-prevention-day-10-september#Training

Also, as part of its World Suicide Prevention Day campaign for 10 September 2026, Mates in Mind has created a suite of resources (including a suicide prevention and a post-suicide response guide, an infographic, two videos and a poster) which can be freely download here.