Construction Charity Bracing for Christmas Surge in Mental Health Texts

NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CHARITY Band of Builders (BoB) is gearing up for an increase in use of its new mental health texts service during the festive period.

It follows new figures showing that 5,583 people died by suicide in Britain  last year.

The charity launched the mental health text service in October as part of its annual Big Brew campaign. Tradespeople, contractors and their families can text BOB to 85258 at any time to get much-needed help. BoB is expecting to see a spike in use over Christmas and into the new year – and it wants to encourage people from across the construction community not to suffer in silence.

Mental Health Texts

Peter Cape, the Big Brew lead at Band of Builders, says that Christmas is always a stressful period at the best of times – but this year additional pressures such as the cost-of-living crisis and sky-high energy bills are making it worse.

“Band of Builders is making a simple appeal this Christmas to everyone in the construction industry to ask for help if they are suffering with mental health issues,” Peter said.

“We’re asking scaffolders, roofers, electricians, builders and everyone else in construction, or their families, who are concerned about their mental health to take that all-important first step and text BOB to 85258.

Text BOB to 85258

“Our text service team is trained to respond to the full spectrum of mental health issues, including abuse, addiction, anger issues, anxiety, bereavement, bullying, depression, loneliness, personality disorders, relationship issues, self-harm, trauma, work-related stress and suicidal thoughts.

“ONS figures used as part of the Big Brew campaign – which is sponsored by Big Red Construction – suggest that UK construction sector workers are nearly three times as likely to die by suicide than their counterparts in other industries, and the suicide rate of UK construction workers is estimated to be as high as two people every day.”

Take the First Step

Peter added that the sole aim of the Big Brew has been to make it as easy as possible for tradespeople and contractors to take the first step and reach out. Last year’s campaign raised enough money to fund a counselling service specifically for the construction industry for two years.

“The new text service has been a welcome addition to the counselling service – which means we can offer different routes by which tradespeople can get much-needed help and support.”

>>See more on sources of help for mental health support