Mental health charity Mates in Mind has launched free digital suicide prevention training aimed specifically at sole traders and self-employed construction workers, timed ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September 2026.
Who the training is for
The training targets a group that mental health researchers in construction consistently identify as hardest to reach: sole traders and self-employed workers who are not covered by employer-led welfare programmes, do not attend regular site briefings, and have no occupational health provision built into their working arrangements.
Construction already has the highest rate of suicide of any industry in the UK, accounting for a disproportionate number of deaths among working-age men annually. Within the sector, self-employed workers face additional risk factors: income instability, isolation from colleagues, and the absence of the informal support structures that come with being part of a team or company.
What the training covers
The Mates in Mind training is prevention-focused rather than crisis-focused. It is designed to increase awareness of the warning signs of mental health deterioration, and to give participants practical approaches for supporting people in their network as well as for recognising their own mental state.
For a sole trader who works largely alone and may have limited social contact through the working week, that kind of awareness has practical value. Knowing what distress looks like in a colleague met at a merchants counter, or in a subcontractor on a shared site, is a skill that the training aims to develop.
The training is digital and self-paced, making it accessible without requiring attendance at a fixed event, which is a significant practical barrier for people who manage their own time around job bookings.
How to access the training
Mates in Mind delivers the training through its website. Access is free. Details are available at www.matesinmind.org.
World Suicide Prevention Day falls on 10 September 2026. If you or someone you know is struggling, contact the Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24 hours) or text SHOUT to 85258 for the Shout Crisis Text Line.
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