Almost 500 construction workers take their own lives every year in the UK and Ireland

Published ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on Friday, filmmakers AKT Productions worked with Ambanja Films to create the hard-hitting film which depicts a man ‘on the edge’ and thinking of taking his life.

Major contractor BAM provided a construction site in Whitechapel, London as the location, and the project is supported by the Lighthouse Club charity, which is the only charity to provide emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support to construction workers and their families.

The result is an emotionally arresting and touching short film called ‘On the Edge’, that aims to enable and encourage those affected to find a way to talk about what they are feeling. The film is free for anyone and everyone to use across the industries, and beyond.

Research has established that almost half of UK tradespeople experience mental health problems due to work. Stress, anxiety and depression account for a fifth of all work-related illnesses.

BAM’s Ewen Hunter, who approached AKT, said: “It was just a ‘good timing’ moment because AKT had the skillset, ideas and same desire to raise this powerful but sensitive subject, so we were more than happy to help them develop the script and provide the film location.

“Although the film and subject are sensitive and distressing, our industry has one of the highest death rates so to be able to be involved in creating this film matters a great deal to many people. Thousands of people in our workforce alone will be viewing it and I know it will prompt some very valuable conversations. It may even save lives.”