The Development of the CAIRDE General Awareness Training

Jack Sweeney, Noel Richardson (), Paula Carroll, P. J. White, Emilie Roche and Shane O’Donnell
Additional contact information
Jack Sweeney: The National Centre for Men’s Health, Department of Health and Sports Sciences, South East Technological University, Kilkenny Road Campus, Kilkenny Road, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland
Noel Richardson: The National Centre for Men’s Health, Department of Health and Sports Sciences, South East Technological University, Kilkenny Road Campus, Kilkenny Road, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland
Paula Carroll: The National Centre for Men’s Health, Department of Health and Sports Sciences, South East Technological University, Kilkenny Road Campus, Kilkenny Road, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland
P. J. White: The National Centre for Men’s Health, Department of Health and Sports Sciences, South East Technological University, Kilkenny Road Campus, Kilkenny Road, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland
Emilie Roche: The National Centre for Men’s Health, Department of Health and Sports Sciences, South East Technological University, Kilkenny Road Campus, Kilkenny Road, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland
Shane O’Donnell: The National Centre for Men’s Health, Department of Health and Sports Sciences, South East Technological University, Kilkenny Road Campus, Kilkenny Road, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 8, 1-17

Abstract: Suicide is a leading cause of death among construction workers, particularly younger and lower-skilled employees. Barriers such as stigma, low mental health literacy, and traditional masculine norms hinder help-seeking in this male-dominated sector. Few mental health interventions are tailored to this context. This study developed a co-designed, theory-informed training to improve mental health literacy, reduce stigma, and increase help-seeking among construction workers in Ireland. Using the Medical Research Council’s framework, the training was developed with the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), Behavior Change Techniques, and extensive stakeholder co-design. Two systematic reviews, a broad literature review, and focus groups with industry managers informed the content and structure. The training will be pilot-tested using validated measures: the Literacy of Suicide Scale (LOSS), the Stigma of Suicide Scale (SOSS), and the General Help-Seeking Questionnaire (GHSQ), the results of which will be the subject of a separate study. CAIRDE is a promising, evidence-based training that addresses key mental health barriers in Irish construction. Embedding the TPB within a co-design methodology has resulted in the development of a training program that is underpinned by theoretical fidelity and cultural relevance and provides a framework for other male-dominated industries to draw upon. Future work should address remaining challenges related to stigma and help-seeking, and explore broader implementation through integration into mandatory safety training.

Keywords: suicide; mental health; intervention development; construction; occupational health training; suicide prevention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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