1,000 builders took their lives in depths of recession

More than 1,000 men in the construction and related industries took their own lives between 2008-2012, a report to be published today will show.

The study by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) and suicide prevention group Pieta House found almost half of male suicides between those years were of men with a construction or production background.

The two organisations will also announce details of a new campaign, Mind Our Workers, which will be aimed at reducing the level of suicide in the sector.

In total there were 6,520 suicides between 2000 and 2012 and 81% of the victims were male.

The campaign will focus on promoting suicide awareness on building sites and encouraging construction workers, who are predominantly male, to talk to each other about their problems.

Meanwhile, the CIF has unveiled a 12 Steps for 20,000 Construction Jobs guide aimed at encouraging politicians to take simple actions which could enhance construction employment throughout the country.

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