Federation of Master Builders (FMB) member and Iraq veteran Nick McHale is calling on the construction industry to put mental health first this Mental Health Awareness Month, as figures show builders are around three to four times more likely to take their own lives than the general population.
FMB member Nick McHale has issued a message for the construction industry, saying silence on site is costing lives and that “everyone needs a Dodger”, after his Labrador helped pull him back from PTSD after serving in Iraq and suffering an injury that meant he had to re-learn how to walk again.
Nick McHale, who runs King N Construction based in Gloucestershire, has lost 16 friends from his regiment alone. Some were killed in action, but many later took their own lives. He fears the same culture of keeping quiet is putting tradespeople at risk.
The latest ONS figures show 355 people working in skilled construction trades in England and Wales died by suicide in 2024. That is a rate of around 29.1 per 100,000 workers, against a national average of about 9.6.
Nick McHale, FMB master builder and Director of King and N Construction, said:
“Mental health is a killer and it is serious. It all comes down to people not talking. In the Army, if you had feelings you were classed as weak, and construction has had that same culture for years. Lads keep it to themselves until it’s too late. That has to change.”
Nick began labouring as a teenager while he waited to join the Army. He later served as a Pioneer, a trade-based infantry role. He was badly injured in Iraq and spent nine months at Headley Court rehabilitation centre learning to walk again. When he left the Army in 2007, the shock of civilian life hit him harder than he realised.
Nick said:
“I was told on the Wednesday I was no good to them any more, and by the Friday I was gone. It hit me hard, but I didn’t even know it had hit me. I’m a prime example of what happens when you don’t talk. I got to a really dark place.”
Nick credits his wife, Lucy, with turning his life around after they met in 2012. It was only then that he realised he was living with PTSD. “She let me talk and let me cry. The best advice she ever gave me was that it’s OK to talk, and it’s OK to cry. You’re allowed up and down days. You just need to find that safe person.”
Years later, on the anniversary of a close friend’s death, a disturbing image triggered a flashback while Nick was driving to work. His dog Dodger, who rides in the back of his pickup every day, brought him out of it. He said: “I had to pull over. I couldn’t breathe. Then, out of nowhere, Dodger nudged me and brought me back. Since then he’s been my guardian angel. Every time I have a trigger, he nudges me, lies on me and brings me back. He’s not trained in any of it. It’s just who he is.”
Now nine, Dodger is a fixture on Nick’s 11-acre eco-build site in Gloucestershire. He senses when anyone is struggling and defuses tension before it boils over. Nick believes every site should have one.
Nick said:
“Every site should have a dog, as long as it’s safe. Someone could be having a really bad day, and just throwing a ball for Dodger changes the whole mood. When I’m struggling, I take him for a walk round the field and talk it through. It sounds silly, but it sorts your head out. If there’s an atmosphere on site, nothing gets done. Make it a happy, safe place and people actually want to come to work.Talk to each other. If you see someone struggling, pick up the phone. My old Army mates have a group chat, and we’ve talked each other out of doing stupid things more than once. Sites need that too. Bosses need to make it OK to say you’re not alright. Whether it’s your wife, your mate, your boss or your dog, everyone needs a Lucy and a Dodger.”
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders, added:
“Nick’s story is brave, powerful and a wake-up call for our whole industry. Construction has one of the highest suicide rates of any sector, and too many builders are still suffering in silence. Nick’s message is simple: talk. Whether it’s a partner, a mate on site or a four-legged colleague like Dodger, nobody should struggle alone. This Mental Health Awareness Month, I’d urge every builder to check in on the people they work with. That one conversation could save a life.”
Where to get help. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out:
- Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, for construction workers and their families: 24/7 helpline 0345 605 1956
- Combat Stress, for veterans and their families: free 24-hour helpline 0800 138 1619, or text 07537 173683
