Mental health is construction’s real safety crisis .
More than half of UK construction workers are struggling with their mental health.
It’s a reality that’s long been ignored — and the consequences are deadly. Every working day, two construction workers die by suicide. That’s more than 600 lives lost a year. And yet, for too long, support has meant little more than posters in break rooms. This blog summarises what over 1,400 workers told us — and how Mindflow is building change from the ground up.
Trevor Steven, CEO at Mindflow: "We’ve had some very frank conversations over the last 18 months about the reality of working in the industry and how it can impact mental health. It is clear we need to do more than just hang a few signs up around sites. Mental health needs to be approached in the same way as health and safety."
What 1,439 workers told us
Between May 2022 and September 2023, Mindflow’s team visited 14 sites across the UK.
Led by former England footballer Trevor Steven, they spoke directly to 1,439 workers — from tradespeople and labourers to plant operators and site managers.
These weren’t tick-box surveys. They were real, often raw conversations.
- 56% of workers said they’d experienced mental health problems
- 12% said they’d had suicidal thoughts
- 40% reported anxiety, 37% depression, 28% fatigue linked to low mood
- Only 21% had received a formal diagnosis
Why current support falls short
The causes are clear. So are the consequences.
- 59% blame long and irregular hours
- 50% cite financial pressure
- 45% point to job insecurity
- 41% say poor site culture and management support
“I was told to leave my issues on the doorstep and not bring them to work.”
The majority of workers we spoke to had never been on a site that seemed to genuinely care.
Many said they wouldn’t be paid for time off due to mental health issues. Others described managers who only ever pointed out mistakes.
The case for on-site real-talk
Construction is 87% male. It’s transient. Isolated. High pressure.
And too often, it’s silent.
But workers told us they would open up — if approached the right way. In fact:
- 86% believe someone should be officially responsible for mental health on site
- 58% said they’d be more likely to seek help if their football club offered it
That’s why Mindflow meets people where they are.
On site. Through football. With real talk.
How football can be used to kickstart real change throughout the industry
67% of the workers we spoke to were football fans — a shared passion that helps break down barriers and spark conversation. That connection is at the heart of how Mindflow works.
As Trevor Steven puts it: “I left one traditionally macho environment and entered another. Football clubs and construction sites share the same roots — working-class, high pressure, and not known for opening up. But football has moved. Players now speak out. Structures are in place. In construction, we need that shift too.”
It started with a simple idea: that the most important safety tool on site isn’t a hard hat.
It’s being able to say, “I’m not OK” — and be heard.
This is why Mindflow is here - to join the dots between football, mental health and construction. Find out more about Mindflow, our approach and more in the video below.
