Friday 28 March 2025: St John Ambulance today launches the Hi Vis Stress Vest campaign to get builders to open up about their mental health, after new research* reveals nearly seven in 10 have suspected a fellow worker was suffering from serious depression – but found it too difficult to talk about.
The findings are released by the health charity as it announces a new face-to-face mental health first aid course to give workers the skills to spot hidden signs, start difficult conversations and create supportive environments at work.
The research showed almost a third, 31%, of the UK construction workforce is currently struggling, overwhelmed or suicidal and eight out of 10, 82%, have suffered a mental health issue at some point in their career.
But nearly four in 10, 39%, would rather quit their job than tell someone and 71% admit to giving a false reason for taking time off due to poor mental health.
St John has produced limited edition Hi Vis Stress Vests to prompt mental health conversations that could save lives in construction and other sectors. On the back of each vest – being worn by celebrities including TV builder Tommy Walsh, managing director of construction company Ashville Group, Daniel Ashville Louisy, and social influencer Ben Wade – is a statement revealing how construction workers might really be feeling behind the bravado. For example, “My debt keeps me awake at night” and “I’m always in pain but hide it.”
Although nearly two-thirds of research respondents, 65%, agree it is healthier to share struggles with stress, anxiety or depression, nearly half, 48%, think they’ll lose the trust and respect of their colleagues if they don't put on a brave face; a fifth are too embarrassed and 14% believe they’ll be laughed at.
Nothing like the tough guy
Half of the country’s builders, 50%, say at home they’re nothing like the 'tough guy' persona they need to put on at work.
Lisa Sharman, national head of education and commercial training at St John Ambulance, says: “The Hi Vis Stress Vest aims to break down barriers and start conversations among groups of workers who find it difficult to talk about mental health. The construction sector has an alarming suicide rate and, as a charity that saves lives, we must try and change that.
“Opening up to someone who’s ready to listen is a vital first step. Our research shows seven in 10 construction workers wished they could talk about mental health more easily and over half of them said they’d be more likely to talk to a trained mental health first aider.
“So, we hope our campaign will also persuade more business leaders to invest in training their people up in mental health first aid – so they can spot hidden signs in their colleagues and step in to potentially save lives."
The 500 research respondents working in construction listed physical exhaustion, 46%, loneliness, 27%, bullying and harassment, 8%, and the need to maintain a tough guy image, 20%, among the causes of their mental health challenges. Nearly two-thirds, 63%, say colleagues know very little about their problems.
Wellbeing manager at construction giant BAM, Rhianwen Condron, recently used the Hi Vis Stress Vests at a session for 10 workers. She says:
“The messages on the back of the vests are very powerful and proved to be fantastic conversation starters. The statements prompted really honest and open dialogue. One operative saw the statement, ‘My Mum just died and I’m struggling’ and opened up about his experience of losing his parents and his feelings of loneliness.
“I’m fully in support of this campaign. Having something physical to focus on, like these Hi Vis Stress Vests, is hugely helpful. I think every construction company should be training people to hold these kinds of wellbeing conversations.”
For more information visit hi-vis stress vest campaign.
*The research was conducted on behalf of St John Ambulance by Censuswide, among a sample of 500 UK construction workers, aged 16+. The data was collected between 14.02.2025 - 19.02.2025.
