People in Cardiff may have spotted some unusual signs in the city centre recently. On Wood Street, near the Principality Stadium, there are two construction signs - one that notes 'Caution Suicide in Construction', while another says 'Diversion The Lost City'.
But these signs carry a powerful message behind them. They are connected to Project 7000: The Lost City campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the 7,000 construction workers who have died by suicide in the last decade in the UK. For the latest Cardiff news, sign up to our newsletter here.
According to the project, the figure is a "crisis" but one that it is "unknown" outside the industry. On their website, their campaign reads: "This is the city that will never be built. Because the 7,000 construction workers it would take to build it have died by suicide in the last decade.
"The construction industry has a suicide rate four times the national average. It's a crisis, but one that's relatively unknown outside the industry. By visualising exactly what they could have built, The Lost City addresses this crisis, showing the true scale of construction suicides. This is the city that could exist if the construction suicide crisis didn't."
To launch their campaign, 7,000 hard hats will be placed across the UK in 10 cities, each representing a life lost to suicide within the construction industry. London, Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh will see reimagined construction signs, which aim to serve as poignant reminders of the workers who could have built homes, schools, and hospitals but were lost to mental health struggles.
Where you can get support for your mental health in Wales
Mind Cymru - mental health charity working across Wales to support people in their communities. Call the infoline on 0300 123 33 93 Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm for information on mental health problems, where to get help near you, treatment options, advocacy services. Mind can also be contacted by email: [email protected]
Beat Cymru - leading eating disorder charity offering support and guidance for people worried about their own or someone else's health, support available 365 days a year on the Welsh helpline 0808 801 0433 or beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Community Advice & Listening Line (CALL) - Mental health helpline for people in Wales which offers emotional support and information for anyone concerned about their own mental health or a friend/family member's mental health. Call 0800 13 27 37 or text 'help' to 81066
Samaritans - For confidential support, Samaritans can be contacted around the clock 365 days a year on 116 123
All information correct at time of publication - if you'd like a Mental Health service to be added, or amended, on this list email WalesOnline reporter Molly Dowrick: [email protected]
According to On The Tools, a construction news service, 26% of tradespeople are more likely than workers in other industries to experience mental ill health in the UK. On The Tools has created a report which aims to explore the true state of mental ill health among UK tradespeople and campaign for changes to be made.
In response, Project 7000: The Lost City has vowed to raise money to help the cause, which you can find out more here. According to the project, their objective is to raise £2.5million for therapy sessions to save the next 7,000 construction worker.
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