This Men’s Health Month, we are shining a light on an issue that hits close to home in our industry—mental health and suicide among male construction workers. A recent dissertation by Arnas Jurcikonis, an Ardmac team member and Construction Management graduate, explores a devastating reality: suicide rates are disproportionately high in the construction sector in Ireland.
Arnas’ research provides a clear and sobering picture. The industry is overwhelmingly male (over 90% of workers), and men account for nearly 80% of suicides in Ireland. Behind these statistics are individuals — sons, fathers, brothers, and friends—whose lives could be saved through awareness, support, and cultural change.
Why Is Suicide So High in Construction?
Construction is a tough job — physically and mentally. Workers face tight deadlines, long hours, job insecurity, financial pressures, and transient work environments. But one of the most insidious issues is the stigma.
A prevailing “macho culture” often discourages men from speaking up or seeking help when they’re struggling. Mental health challenges are too often hidden behind silence, stoicism, or even substance misuse.
Arnas’ study found that many workers aren’t even aware of the high suicide risk in the industry, and even fewer are familiar with available support systems. While some companies offer counselling and wellness initiatives, uptake is low—often due to stigma or lack of promotion. As he rightly points out, support must be accessible, visible, and normalised if it’s going to be effective.
Industry-Wide Change Starts With Us
So, what can be done?
Arnas’ work calls for practical changes: mental health Toolbox Talks, visible site-based support, and management training. The Toolbox Talk sessions have been successfully implemented within Ardmac with some very positive feedback from site teams. Importantly, he also highlights the success of “Mates in Construction” in Australia—a programme where workers receive on-site suicide prevention training from peers who understand the industry.
Programmes like this not only provide help but actively chip away at stigma by making mental health part of daily conversation. We need to embed mental wellbeing into the culture of construction, not treat it as a once-a-year initiative.
Ardmac’s Commitment: Partnering with the Lighthouse Charity
At Ardmac, we are committed to being part of the solution. That’s why we partner with the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, a leading organisation providing emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing
support to construction workers and their families. Through this partnership, we help ensure 24/7 access to free and confidential support via the Lighthouse helpline.
At Ardmac, mental health and employee wellbeing are integral to the company’s culture and values. We’re committed to creating a supportive and inclusive environment by offering a range of mental health services and initiatives. These include access to professional counselling through Lighthouse, mental health awareness training, and regular wellbeing workshops designed to promote resilience and reduce stigma.
Ardmac also promotes open communication and encourages employees to speak up and seek help when needed, ensuring that mental health is treated with the same importance as physical health.
A Call to Action
This Men’s Health Month, we urge everyone in the construction sector—not just leaders, but every worker—to take a moment and ask: What can I do to support my colleagues and myself?
Sometimes it’s as simple as checking in. Sometimes it means advocating for better policies. And sometimes, it means being brave enough to speak up when you’re struggling. Arnas’ research shows that awareness and action can save lives. Let’s honour that by working together to make construction a place where mental health is protected, respected, and openly discussed.
If you or someone you know needs support, contact the Lighthouse Construction Industry Helpline at 1800 939 122 (Ireland) or 0345 605 1956 (UK). Help is always available.
About Arnas:
Ar
nas Jurcikonis is a Construction Site Manager at Ardmac Interiors, based in Dundalk, County Louth. With a strong foundation in mechanical engineering studies at TU Dublin – Bolton Street, Arnas combines technical expertise with hands-on construction leadership to deliver high-quality interior fit-out projects. At Ardmac, Arnas plays a pivotal role in organizing and overseeing interior site activities—from pre-construction planning to final client handovers. His responsibilities include coordinating subcontractors, managing schedules and resources, enforcing stringent health and safety protocols, and ensuring projects stay on time, within scope, and on budget.
