The Development of the CAIRDE General Awareness Training

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 22; no. 8; p. 1306
• Main Authors: Sweeney, Jack, Richardson, Noel, Carroll, Paula, White, P. J., Roche, Emilie, O’Donnell, Shane
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 20.08.2025; MDPI
• Subjects: Awareness; Construction Industry; Focus Groups; Health Literacy; Humans; Intervention; Ireland; Male; Mental Health - education; Social Stigma; Suicide Prevention; Theory of planned behavior; Training; Ireland; suicide prevention; construction; occupational health training; intervention development; mental health; suicide
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph22081306

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.