One week ahead of Blue Monday, Toolstation will launch the latest edition of its catalogue. The 91st edition will include a free 24/7 number for the Construction Industry Helpline which is managed and funded by the Lighthouse Club. The helpline provides confidential support for those in the construction industry who need access to emotional, financial and physical support. The initiative is the first phase of a campaign that will see Toolstation help address mental health issues in the construction industry.
The move comes as research found that workers in the construction industry are three times more likely to die by suicide than the national average. A May 2020 Chartered Institute of Building report found that 26% of construction workers who responded to their survey had experienced suicidal thoughts, while 97% had experienced stress over the past year.
The advert for the helpline means that tradespeople will be able to privately chat with a trained expert from the Lighthouse Club. The helpline is aimed at those who need advice on mental wellbeing and occupational health. It also helps to provide emergency financial aid to construction families in crisis and support on legal, tax and debt management matters.
Toolstation are developing a campaign to support this across its channels over the coming months to raise awareness of the issue and encourage people to seek the support offered by Lighthouse Club.
This follows Toolstation’s winning entry into Ocean’s annual digital creative competition last October for bold out-of-home advertising with ‘The World’s Most Supportive Poster.’ The entry helped to address mental health issues in the construction industry.
Bill Hill CEO of Lighthouse Club, says: “No construction worker or their family should be alone in a crisis. Our charity provides many free emotional, physical and financial support services for our industry community in need. One of our biggest challenges is getting our message of support to the trades and the self-employed. Toolstation can really help us reach the part of our workforce that doesn’t even know we exist and let them know that we are there for them 24/7.”
Greg Richardson, head of marketing at Toolstation, says: “Those who work for smaller organisations or are sole traders in the construction industry might not have easy access to mental health support, so this move is an important first step in raising awareness that everyone in the industry can quickly talk with someone who can help. The Construction Industry Helpline provides an invaluable service to those in the sector so we’re happy to be supporting it.”