A giant piece of artwork made up of 687 high-vis vests has been displayed on a construction site in the West End of London to represent the annual number of trade suicides in the UK.
The mural has been created for Mental Health Awareness Week (15th-21st May) by IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect to visualise the scale of the issue within the industry, and ‘give mental health higher visibility’. As IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect’s organic media and PR agency, Leeds’ Jaywing has led the campaign strategy and delivery to execute this powerful campaign.
For the next few months, the banner is being displayed at the Galliford Try construction site on Goslett Yard, just off Charing Cross London, in the heart of the West End.
Tragically, an average of 687 skilled trade workers, almost two-a-day, died by suicide each year between 2019-2021, according to government data.
In 2021, tradespeople accounted for 15 per cent of suicides across all industries – more than any other occupation. In fact, construction workers are nearly four times as likely to die by suicide than some other sectors.
The 687 high-vis vests, symbolising each of these individuals, have been stitched together into one 12-metre-tall garment by J&C Joel, one of the world’s leading fabric manufacturers.
The display was unveiled alongside the third annual Mental Health in the Trades report, created by Jaywing and IronmongeryDirect. The report found that more than four in five (84 per cent) UK tradespeople experience mental health problems due to work-related issues.
As part of the campaign, the Essex-based companies have once again partnered with the mental health charity, Basildon Mind, and are donating over £5,000 to support its crucial services.
Emma Mamo, head of workspace wellbeing at Mind, said: “In male-dominated industries such as construction, employees are often less willing and able to open up about their mental health and ask for support. This can be problematic because mental health problems often become worse if left untreated, and the consequences can be fatal.
“We urge employers to create cultures where employees can speak openly and honestly about their mental health.”
Dominick Sandford, MD at IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect, added: “We hope that this artwork serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of mental health issues within the trades industry.
“By bringing this issue to the forefront of people’s minds, we hope to encourage more open conversations around mental health and continue our efforts to support those who may be struggling.”
