Prince William went to visit the construction workers for a serious reason.
The Prince of Wales, 41, spoke to builders on a construction site in west London on Wednesday to discuss the rate of suicides in the construction industry.
As well as speaking to workers about the challenges they face, he also heard from mental health charity Mates in Mind about the work they do to support employers and organizations such as contractors, supply chains and policy makers to ensure the change that is needed to improve mental well-being in the sector.
Construction workers have one of the highest suicide rates in the country, with rates in the industry more than three times the national average. Two years ago, 507 construction workers died by suicide in Great Britain, according to a statement from Prince William’s office at Kensington Palace.
Prince William wears a helmet at a construction site in West London.
JUSTIN TALLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Prince William’s visit comes during the week of World Suicide Prevention Day, which is celebrated on September 10. Suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 35, and William has pledged to highlight the problem and what can be done to prevent it.
As an ambulance helicopter pilot, William and his crewmates witnessed suicides, and he spoke of the trauma that ensued. One of his first calls on the job at the East Anglia Air Ambulance Service was to a young man who had committed suicide.
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The charity Mates in Mind has started working with construction companies to improve mental health in the sector and recognize the particular pressures construction workers face.
Prince William was told of the partnership, which places a strong focus on promoting the implementation of proactive strategies whereby companies support the mental health of their employees by identifying and addressing issues early.
Mates in Mind runs workshops and training on construction sites to help improve understanding and awareness of mental health.
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Prince William at a construction site in London on Wednesday.
JUSTIN TALLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Prince William is supporting Wales at the Rugby World Cup in France after Kate Middleton attended another game
Prince William’s visit came as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle cheered on veterans at the Invictus Games in Germany.
And this a day after his wife, Kate Middleton, visited a men’s prison to highlight how incarceration can start with addiction. The charity she supports, the Forward Trust, helps people in the criminal justice system fight and recover from addiction.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education