Between the 10^th and 14^th October, the Builders Station brought together tradespeople, mental health charities, social media influencers and industry experts to encourage discussion in the trades around mental wellbeing.

“I wasn’t aware of the scale of the problem the industry is facing, until I started working with Fix Radio,” said Clive Holland, the host of Fix Radio’s flagship afternoon show, The Clive Holland Show.

“Our industry loses two people every working day to suicide. With the pandemic, material price increases, and now the cost-of-living crisis, the last two years have been a very stressful time for many in our industry,” Holland added.

“So ask your co-worker, and your colleagues how they are feeling. And then ask them a second time - it’s vitally important and could make a real difference,” he added.

Content around mental wellbeing ran right across the station. Sam Hughes, one half of the Bald Builders Breakfast on Fix Radio, openly shared his own experiences of managing his mental health.

He urged anybody who is struggling to reach out and speak about it with somebody.

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Other guests on the Builders Station over Mental Health Week included former professional footballer Mark Crossley, Bill Hill CEO of the Lighthouse Club, Peter Kelly of Mates in Mind, Peter Case from Band of Builders, Andy Bishop a volunteer with the joint Ford and Lighthouse Club ‘Make it Visible’ campaign and Screwfix Tradesperson of the Year 2022, Toby Peacock.

“The statistics around mental health in the industry are shocking – nearly a quarter of construction workers have considered ending their own lives,” said Louis Timpany, founder and CEO of Fix Radio.

“The suicide rate in construction is three times higher than other sector, and want to use the community we have built around the Builders Station to raise awareness to this massive issue,” he added.

To listen to the full podcast on Mental Health Week click below.