St John Ambulance has launched the Hi Vis Stress Vest to encourage a more open conversation about mental health at work.
Construction can be a demanding industry to work in. Long hours, tight deadlines and physically demanding environments. Combined with a culture that can make it hard to speak openly, it can add pressure. That's why mental health support in the construction industry needs to be part of how safer workplaces are built.
Nearly a third of construction workers we surveyed describe their current state as “struggling”, “overwhelmed” or “suicidal”, while 82% say they’ve suffered with a mental health challenge at some point in their career in the trade. (source 1)
Talking about mental health can feel difficult, but having access to mental health courses and trained mental health first aiders makes these vital conversations much easier. In fact, 54% of builders said they would be more likely to share their problems if they had a trained mental health first aider on site. (source 1)
Leaders in the construction industry and familiar faces in the media are using our Hi Vis Stress Vest – emblazoned with some of the real feelings workers keep hidden, to kick start difficult conversations about mental health struggles.
"Anything that prompts our people to start opening up is valuable and having something physical to focus on, like these Hi Vis Stress Vests, is hugely helpful. I think every construction company should be training people to hold these kinds of wellbeing conversations."
Rhianwen Condron, Wellbeing Manager, BAM
Did you know...
Mental Health Courses
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health Advocate
Mental Health Awareness
Mental Health Manager: Supporting Your Team
Mental Health First Aid (On-Site) at your Premises
Mental Health Advocate (On-Site) at your Premises
Mental Health Awareness (On-Site) at your Premises
Mental Health Manager: Supporting Your Team (On-Site) at your Premises
Mental Health Manager eLearning
Mental Health Awareness eLearning
Managing Anxiety eLearning
Mental Health Creating a Supportive Workplace eLearning
Mental Health Annual Refresher eLearning
Mental Health Courses
Be an employer that’s fully prepared to support people if they have a first aid emergency or struggling with their mental health.
Mental Health CoursesSupporting mental health in construction is about building a workplace where people feel safe, supported and able to speak up. That starts with giving your teams the confidence and skills to recognise when something isn’t right and take action early. By encouraging employees to take mental health courses, you'll be providing a practical way to do exactly that. Whether you’re looking to raise awareness, train dedicated mental health first aiders or help managers feel more confident in supporting their teams, the right mental health training can turn good intentions into meaningful action.
St John Ambulance’s approach focuses on empathy, early intervention and real-world workplace situations, helping organisations build stronger, more resilient teams. Investing in mental health courses means creating a workplace culture where mental well-being is part of everyday working life. And when people feel supported, everyone benefits - from safer sites to more confident teams and better outcomes across your organisation.
Need some assistance? Get in touch.
📞 0344 770 4800 (Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5:30pm)
- Source 1: Research was conducted on behalf of St John Ambulance by Censuswide, among a sample of 500 UK construction workers, aged 16+. The data was collected between 14.02.2025 - 19.02.2025.
- Source 2: Commissioned by St John Ambulance and conducted by Censuswide in February 2025 with 1,001 actively employed UK respondents.
- Source 3: Commissioned by St John Ambulance and conducted by Censuswide in February 2025 with 505 UK HR Directors.
Please note: The Hi Vis Stress Vest is not available for purchase.
