Prince William was visibly moved during a visit to a London construction site today as he learned that workers in the building industry have suicide rates more than three times the national average, with 507 construction workers taking their own lives in 2021—roughly two per day.
The Prince of Wales, 41, toured a billion-pound Microsoft data centre project in North Acton, run by Mace, which has partnered with mental health charity Mates in Mind. Wearing a hard hat and protective gear, William spoke to workers about the importance of mental health, saying: '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.'
William noted that construction is a male-dominated environment, which he described as a 'hard-to-reach group.' He discussed factors contributing to the high suicide rates, including high-pressure deadlines, working away from home, a traditional 'macho' culture, and concerns over temporary contracts.
During a lunch break, William asked a group of carpenters and a supervisor whether they talk about mental health and if the term 'mental fitness' resonates with them. Supervisor Edward Xhafa, 43, said after the conversation: 'Everywhere you look there is pressure but we talk about it a lot. We look after each other.'
Drawing on his own experience as an air ambulance pilot, William stressed the importance of not carrying trauma alone. 'People start to realise you don’t have to live with this for 20 years in your head,' he said. Health and safety manager Alex Lovett praised the prince's visit, noting that while culture has improved, 'we still have a long way to go.'
