Integral Cradles and our maintenance partner GIND UK are marking World Suicide Prevention Day on Thursday 10th September with further donations from both business’ to the Samaritans, alongside continued support for the industry-wide message: Don’t Leave It Unsaid.
The day provides a stark reminder of the scale of the challenge facing construction. Workers in the sector are four times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, with middle-aged men aged 35 to 54 representing the highest suicide rate demographic in the UK. It is a crisis that both companies have committed to addressing head-on.
Building on last year’s commitment
In 2025, Integral Cradles and GIND UK launched a pioneering staff ‘Wellbeing Time’ initiative, giving employees designated periods of time beyond their standard holiday entitlement to focus on their physical, mental and emotional health. That programme remains embedded across both businesses.
This year, the companies are extending their support further with a donation to the Samaritans, recognising the vital, life-saving work the charity carries out every day.
Kevin Walton, Managing Director of Integral Cradles and GIND UK, said:
“World Suicide Prevention Day is a moment to pause and recognise just how many people in our industry are affected by this. Last year’s Wellbeing Time initiative was about giving our people the space they need. This year, supporting the Samaritans through these annual donations felt like the right next step, and it sits alongside our ongoing commitment to keep talking about mental health, not just on this day, but all year round.”
Don’t Leave It Unsaid
Both companies are also getting behind this year’s industry campaign message, Don’t Leave It Unsaid, which encourages a simple but powerful action: checking in on colleagues, friends and family, and having the conversation, however small it might seem.
The campaign echoes a wider shift taking place across construction, with recent developments such as the Mental Health Joint Code of Practice (JCOP) encouraging the sector to think further upstream, considering how work is designed, planned and managed, and not just how individuals are supported after the fact.
Kevin added:
“You don’t need the perfect words. Asking someone how they really are, and taking the time to listen to the answer, can make a genuine difference. That’s why we’re encouraging our teams to make Friday a check-in day, a simple, regular habit of reaching out to colleagues rather than waiting for a crisis point.”
Recognising the signs
It can be difficult to spot when someone is struggling, as many people hide how they feel. Signs to look out for include:
- Changes in behaviour or mood, such as increased anxiety, irritability or unusually low spirits
- Withdrawing or isolating from colleagues, friends and family
- Changes to everyday functioning, including sleep, appetite or concentration
- Increased risk-taking or substance use
- Talking about feeling hopeless, trapped, or being a burden to others
- Unusual goodbyes or a sudden, unexplained change in mood
Integral Cradles and GIND UK are encouraging staff across their operations to look out for one another and to signpost colleagues to professional support where needed.
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Support resources
Employees and anyone affected by the issues raised are encouraged to reach out to:
– Samaritans: 116 123 (free, 24/7)
– CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably): 0800 58 58 58
– Mind: 0300 123 3393
– Construction Industry Helpline: 0345 605 1956
Kevin concluded:
“Every conversation counts. We’d encourage everyone across our industry, whatever size their business, to take a moment this World Suicide Prevention Day and start a conversation. It could matter more than you know.”
For more information on World Suicide Prevention Day, visit www.samaritans.org
