Shane O’dOnnell

Introduction: Suicide among male construction workers is reported to be disproportionally high compared with the working age population, with younger construction workers being at particular risk. However, there is limited understanding of the prevalence and associated factors for suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempt among this occupational group globally or among apprentices pursuing this career. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of male Irish construction-related apprentices in Ireland (n = 651). We investigated the prevalence of suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempts and sociodemographic, occupational and mental health factors associated with these three outcomes. A logistic regression with backward selection of variables was used to explore factors related to suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempt. Results: The prevalence rate for suicidal ideation was 40.5%, 13.3% for non-suicidal self-injury and 9.3% for suicide attempt. Analysis of suicidal ideation showed previous mental health difficulties, levels of depression and low self-esteem remained significant. Analysis of non-suicidal self-injury showed living in rented accommodation, financial worries, previous mental health difficulties, levels of anxiety and depression remained significant factors in the final model. Analysis of suicide attempts showed living in rented accommodation, financial worries, previous mental health difficulties, levels of depression and low self-esteem remained significant. Conclusion: Suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempt are significant issues for apprentices working in the construction industry. Findings highlight a need for support at an earlier stage in their journey. They also highlight the need for the early detection and treatment of generalised anxiety disorder, low self-esteem and depression in order to intervene in, and potentially prevent, suicidality among construction workers.

Men in the construction industry are at a higher risk for suicidality when compared to the general male population. While industry-specific challenges such as excessive working hours and a pressurized work environment are contributory factors, deeply embedded masculine norms within the industry can further exacerbate this risk by discouraging mental health disclosure and help-seeking. Against this backdrop, managers occupy a pivotal position to potentially transform this wider workplace culture. Their dual perspectives—both professionally as gatekeepers and personally as individuals with lived experience of key pressure points within the industry—can provide a nuanced, in-depth understanding of the sociocultural influences affecting construction workers’ help-seeking behaviours for mental health challenges. Despite this, managers’ perspectives are underexplored. Five focus groups were conducted with managers (n = 33) to explore their experiences of the broader cultural influences on help-seeking behaviour within the industry. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Findings indicated three themes: (i) industry influences on help-seeking, (ii) navigating disclosure of mental health issues in a male-dominated industry, and (iii) negotiating support pathways. Findings highlight the interconnectedness of industry-specific and personal challenges that influence the disclosure of mental health issues and shape help-seeking behaviours among construction workers. Study findings have informed the development of a gender-responsive suicide prevention programme for the Irish construction industry.

Suicide is a leading cause of death among construction workers, particularly younger and lower-skilled employees. Barriers such as stigma, low mental health literacy, and traditional masculine norms hinder help-seeking in this male-dominated sector. Few mental health interventions are tailored to this context. This study developed a co-designed, theory-informed training to improve mental health literacy, reduce stigma, and increase help-seeking among construction workers in Ireland. Using the Medical Research Council’s framework, the training was developed with the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), Behavior Change Techniques, and extensive stakeholder co-design. Two systematic reviews, a broad literature review, and focus groups with industry managers informed the content and structure. The training will be pilot-tested using validated measures: the Literacy of Suicide Scale (LOSS), the Stigma of Suicide Scale (SOSS), and the General Help-Seeking Questionnaire (GHSQ), the results of which will be the subject of a separate study. CAIRDE is a promising, evidence-based training that addresses key mental health barriers in Irish construction. Embedding the TPB within a co-design methodology has resulted in the development of a training program that is underpinned by theoretical fidelity and cultural relevance and provides a framework for other male-dominated industries to draw upon. Future work should address remaining challenges related to stigma and help-seeking, and explore broader implementation through integration into mandatory safety training.

Men have a higher risk of suicide compared to women, with those in male-dominated industries such as construction being particularly vulnerable. These industries are typically characterised as ‘macho’ environments, endorsing traditional masculine norms that reinforce mental health stigma and delay help-seeking. The workplace is a promising setting for engaging men with issues around their mental health. Although managers can play a key role by connecting workers in distress with mental health supports, research exploring their experiences of this is limited. This study sought to address this gap by exploring the barriers to and the facilitators of help-offering behaviour among managers in the construction industry in Ireland. Five focus groups were conducted with construction industry managers (n = 33) to explore their perspectives on supporting and offering help to workers in distress. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings indicated three key themes: (1) creating the right environment with sub-themes focused on fostering an open culture around mental health on-site and overcoming systemic challenges; (2) navigating the practice of help-offering; and (3) using the right tools for the job. The findings highlight the need for manager training tailored to the construction industry as part of a multi-faceted approach to help-offering within the industry.

Men are at a higher risk for suicide when compared to women, with those in male-dominated industries, such as construction, being particularly vulnerable. These industries are typically characterised as ‘macho’ environments – endorsing traditional masculine norms, higher levels of mental health stigma, and delayed help-seeking. Settings-based approaches to health promotion identify the workplace as a promising setting for engaging men around their mental health. Although managers play a key role in this process by connecting workers in distress with mental health supports, research exploring their experiences of this is limited. Five focus groups were conducted with managers in the construction industry (n=33) to explore their perspectives on supporting and offering help to workers in distress. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Findings led to three key themes: (1) Creating the right environment with subthemes focused on fostering an open culture around mental health on-site and overcoming systemic challenges; (2) Navigating the practice of help-offering; and (3) The right tools for the job. Findings highlight the need for manager training, tailored to the construction industry, as part of a multi-faceted approach to help-offering within the industry.

This study sought to explore the relationship between sociodemographic-, mental health-, knowledge-, attitudinal-, and conformity to masculine norms variables with suicide literacy, suicide stigma, and help-seeking attitudes among men in a university setting (n = 471) in Ireland. Multiple linear regression with backward elimination was used to determine the independent variables associated with suicide literacy, suicide stigma, and help-seeking attitudes. Lower suicide literacy was associated with an ethnic minority background, living in a rural community, postgraduate students compared to undergraduate students, no depression symptoms in the past year, decreasing loneliness, greater suicide stigma, more negative help-seeking attitudes, lower resilience, greater conformity to the masculine norm power over women and lower conformity to the masculine norm emotional control. Greater suicide stigma was associated with a non-ethnic minority background, all departments of study compared to health and sports science, lower suicide literacy, more negative help-seeking attitudes, and greater conformity to the masculine norms of power over women, dominance, and heterosexual self-presentation. More negative help-seeking attitudes were associated with no generalized anxiety disorder symptoms in the past year, depression symptoms in the past year, greater suicide risk, lower suicide literacy, greater suicide stigma, greater resilience, and greater conformity to the masculine norms emotional control, self-reliance, violence, and heterosexual self-presentation. Findings highlight a need for gender-responsive psychoeducational programmes to target suicide literacy, suicide stigma, and/or help-seeking attitudes among men in university settings. They also highlight that such initiatives need to be co-produced alongside ethnic minority and rural-dwelling men to ensure they are culturally sensitive and acceptable.

Background: Suicide among male construction workers are reported to be disproportionally high compared to the working age population. However, there is minimal understanding of the prevalence and associated factors for suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury, and suicide attempt among this occupational group globally. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a large sample of male construction workers in Ireland (n = 1,585). We investigated the prevalence of suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempts and sociodemographic, occupational, and mental health factors associated with these three outcomes. Multivariable Poisson regression was performed to estimate the prevalence rate ratio of suicidal ideation (model 1 primary outcome), while multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio of non-suicidal self-injury (model 2 primary outcome), and suicide attempt (model 3 primary outcome). Results: The lifetime prevalence rate for suicidal ideation was 22%, 6% for non-suicidal self-injury, and 6% for suicide attempt. In univariate modelling, socio-demographic and occupation-specific factors associated with the three outcomes included younger age (suicidal ideation and non-suicidal self-injury), not being in a relationship (suicide attempt) and working 35–44 h per week (suicidal ideation and suicide attempt). The mental health factors generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and suicide bereavement were significantly associated with increased risk of the three outcomes. In fully adjusted multivariable models, increasing severity of generalized anxiety disorder and depression were associated with an increased prevalence rate ratio of suicidal ideation, and a higher odds ratio of non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempt. Conclusion: Suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempt are significant issues for male construction workers that require specific attention. Findings highlight a need to support younger male construction workers and those bereaved by suicide. They also highlight the need for the early detection and treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and depression in order to intervene in, and potentially prevent, suicidality among male construction workers.

Mental ill-health and suicide represent a significant proportion of the burden of global disease among men. Connell’s relational theory of masculinities provides a useful framework to explore how mental health literacy, mental health stigma, and delayed help-seeking and help-offering behaviors are associated with mental ill-health among men, particularly within male-dominated industries. To address the high incidences of mental ill-health in male-dominated industries, several workplace interventions targeting these outcomes have been implemented. No review to date has examined the current state of evidence for these interventions or identified the behavior change techniques used. This review was restricted to empirical, quantitative research reporting on psychosocial interventions targeting mental health literacy, stigma, and help-seeking and help-offering behaviors in male-dominated industries. Quality appraisal was completed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project and a narrative synthesis was conducted. Twelve articles were included for review which reported on four distinct interventions. The methodological quality of two articles was strong, three moderate and seven weak. The strongest evidence of intervention effects related to mental health literacy and help-seeking intentions. There was less evidence relating to help-offering and help-seeking behaviors and mental health stigma. Sixteen behavior change techniques were identified across interventions that are discussed in relation to the wider men’s health literature. The evidence on psychosocial interventions in male-dominated industries is limited due to methodological and conceptual issues. Recommendations for future research include standardized reporting of intervention descriptions, the use of theory to guide intervention development, and utilizing validated and reliable outcome measures.

Background Suicide among male construction industry workers (CIWs) are reported to be disproportionally high compared to the working age population. However, there is minimal understanding of the prevalence and associated factors of suicidal ideation (SI), non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), and suicide attempts (SA) among male CIWs. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on a large sample of male CIWs in Ireland (n = 1,585). We investigated the prevalence of SI, NSSI and SA and sociodemographic, occupational, and mental health factors associated with these three outcomes. Multivariable Poisson regression was performed to estimate the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of SI (model 1 primary outcome), while multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of NSSI (model 2 primary outcome), and SA (model 3 primary outcome). Results. The lifetime prevalence rate of SI in this study was 22%, 6% for NSSI, and 6% for SA. In univariable modelling, socio-demographic and occupational factors associated with the three outcomes included younger age (SI and NSSI), not being in a relationship (SA) and working 35–44 hours per week (SI and SA). All psychological factors (past mental health difficulties, history of mental health treatment, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), depression, suicide bereavement) were significantly associated with increased risk of the three outcomes. In fully adjusted multivariable models: (1) past mental health difficulties, higher GAD and depression levels were associated with increased IRR of suicide ideation; (2) past mental health difficulties and higher GAD levels were associated with a higher odds ratio (OR) of NSSI and; (3) past mental health difficulties and higher depression levels were associated with higher ORs for SA. Conclusion. SI, NSSI and SA are significant issues for male CIWs that require specific attention. Findings highlight a need to support younger male CIWs and those bereaved by suicide. They also highlight the need for the early detection and treatment of GAD and depression in order to intervene in, and potentially prevent, suicidality among male CIWs.

Arts engagement is gaining recognition as a non-clinical approach to promote mental health and well-being. However, the perceived utility of the arts to promote mental health among men with low socioeconomic status (SES) and how to best engage them is underexplored. This study explores the lived experiences of men with low SES who engage with the arts in Northern Ireland (n = 41). Data collected via focus groups (n = 5) and interviews (n = 11) were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to inductively derive four themes. Theme 1 highlights how the arts facilitated friendship, a collective identity, peer support and a reason to socialize. Themes 2 and 3 explore how the arts enhanced self-esteem and emotional regulation by developing a routine, purpose, sense of mastery, a sense of catharsis through immersion in a soothing endeavour and an alternative outlet for self-expression. Theme 4 covers strategies that facilitate male engagement in the arts such as using a familiar space, delivering to an existing male group, framing the programme around male interests not health or creativity, building on existing strengths and capacities, enabling ownership, using tangible action-orientated activities, and being non-authoritative and flexible with delivery. This is one of the first studies to highlight the gendered dimensions in which men with low SES engage with and experience mental health benefits through arts engagement. This study points towards relevant theories to further understand the pathways between the arts and improved mental health among men which can inform development of tailored arts programmes for men.