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In construction, there are countless measures to ensure physical safety, but there is little attention paid to mental well-being. And this has significant consequences. Research has shown that the suicide rate is much higher than in other professions. It’s a problem that several countries are grappling with.
With a special workwear line, Alan Farragher aims to draw attention to mental health in the construction industry. And he’s not the only one addressing the issue in this way…
Farragher, from New Zealand, works as a manager on a construction site and believes there’s not enough discussion about how people are feeling there. This is crucial because in his country, someone from the construction sector takes their own life every week. Often, it’s men who struggle to talk about mental health.
Workwear raises awareness for mental health in construction
Farragher, a father of three sons, wants to prevent the next generation from facing the same challenges. That’s why he launched Diamond Workwear, a workwear company that draws attention to mental health through striking designs.
“Diamond Workwear is a personal legacy project. I didn’t just want to make an impact; I also wanted my boys to grow up proud of their father, because he changed the way we view mental health in this country. I hope that by the time they’re old enough and need to have these conversations, it will be easier for them than it was for my generation.
The core of this entire project is normalizing discussions about mental health care. We can remove the shame and stigma and openly talk about our struggles. It’s one of the most powerful ways we can work to break generational cycles.”
Not the first to raise awareness
This isn’t the first time a workwear company has addressed this issue. Australian company TradeMutt also sells fluorescent jackets with graphic prints. The back bears the text ‘This is a conversation starter’. This way, wearers can encourage colleagues to talk about mental health. The collection has expanded with various prints on both clothing items and accessories.
For the British Lighthouse Construction Club, this is also a crucial issue. It’s a charity that is 100% committed to providing support for the emotional, physical, and financial well-being of the construction community and their families. This is particularly necessary as, on average, two construction workers in England take their own lives every day. Furthermore, research by the Lighthouse Construction Club has shown that 26% of construction workers have considered suicide in the past 12 months.
That’s why, in collaboration with car manufacturer Ford, they launched the #makeitvisible campaign. In 2023, around 265 construction sites were visited to raise awareness of mental health. The workers were dressed in HiVis vests with eye-catching designs.
I think it’s fantastic that organizations like these are tackling such an important issue. As an employer, you can offer as many helmets, gloves, and workwear as you want. But if someone isn’t feeling good mentally, that doesn’t provide protection anymore…
Best regards,
Aileen