We Are England S2022E60 - Mental Health Coping in Construction

We pass construction sites every day, but most people don't know that behind the flurry of activity and noise, the industry has the worst suicide rate of any job in the UK. We meet the people building our cities and towns, doing a physically and mentally draining job, often while struggling with their mental health.

Alfie and his scaffolding gang have seen first-hand the mental health struggles of colleagues working in construction, now they're joining forces with a worker-led initiative to make a difference. Through their stories, we explore why the industry is in such bad shape and witness a change in a group of young construction workers who have struggled to discuss mental health issues before now.

We also meet those who have suffered while working on a building site but who are now trying to effect fundamental change in the industry, and see how their efforts are finally gaining ground.