The Prince of Wales has donned a hard hat and joined the crew of a construction site in west London to discuss mental health in their field.
William’s visit was to mark World Suicide Prevention Day, and he spoke with those working in construction to discuss the high numbers of suicide and ways to prevent high numbers.
The prince visited a Mace construction site and learned of their partnership with Mates in Mind, one of his patronages, about strategies they’re implementing to lower the rates of suicide in the field.
According to figures provided by Kensington Palace, the rate of suicide in the construction industry is more than three times higher than the national average.
On Kensington Palace social media, William wrote: “Mental health matters just as much as physical safety on a construction site. We can strengthen each other’s foundations with compassion, empathy and a willingness to listen.
“Shockingly, an average of two suicides occur every working day in the construction industry here in the UK. However, there are lots of brilliant organisations like @matesinmind who provide support to those in need of someone to turn to.
“Always remember there’s strength in seeking help.”
William spoke with members of the team while they were on their lunch break before putting on a hard hat and protective gear to view the site they were working on.
The royal told them, “We want to help empower people to speak about their problems in a safe space and ensure mental health is embedded in everything we do. It’s important everyone has the ability to be open.”
In a statement, Mates in Mind’s managing director Sarah Meek said that William’s visit was an honour, and that “it was a wonderful opportunity during this visit to be able to raise awareness of mental health, to start conversations about the issues and contributory factors faced at all levels within construction, the impact that arises and continue eradicating the stigma of mental ill-health and the barriers that surround it.”
