SPEAK Partnership Supporting Suicide Prevention
Two construction workers take their own lives every day in the UK. That’s not a statistic, that’s a crisis.
To confront this growing mental health emergency in the industry, we have partnered with mental health organisation SPEAK (Suicide Prevention Education Action Kindness) launching a pilot programme with a series of on-site outreach events aimed at supporting construction workers’ wellbeing. Elliotts Premier Roofing and SPEAK visitited five different construction sites, offering free burgers and an open conversation to all site workers, men and women, across all roles.
This initiative, SPEAK in Construction, was developed in direct response to the shocking reality that:
- Construction workers are four times more likely to die by suicide than any other industry
- Two workers in the UK construction industry die by suicide every single day
SPEAK is a ground-level, worker-first approach to mental health. It’s not just about raising awareness, it’s about creating space, building trust, and offering real tools to help.
Key components of the programme include:
- Thrive 2 Earn, a reward system that incentivises workers to engage with their own wellbeing and support each other on-site
- Free personal wellness plans for every worker
- WhatsApp communities for connection and support
- Food truck visits, on-site presence, and accountability partners from trained facilitators
Support Across the Industry
Elliotts is the first company to support the pilot programme, followed soon after by Taylor Wimpey, helping to roll out SPEAK across several of their active sites. This collaborative approach is a strong signal that the industry is ready for change, and that it must start on-site, where the pressures are highest and the stigma around mental health still lingers.
Get Involved
This is just the beginning. SPEAK aims to be present on every UK construction site, offering a simple message: you’re not alone, and support is always available — sometimes in the form of a chat over a burger.
To learn more or to bring SPEAK to your site email: [email protected] or visit their website