Bromsgrove man running 5k a day in May to highlight stigma and issues surrounding mental health
Tradesman Joe Baker is taking on the challenge after 7,000 construction workers have taken their own life in the past decade
Last updated 15th May 2025
Bromsgrove's Joe Baker is aiming to run 5K a day this month to highlight mental health stigmas in the construction business.
According to The Lost City campaign, 7,000 construction workers are said to have taken their own life in the past decade alone.
Our reporter Elliot Burrow joined Joe on one of his runs to see how he was getting on with his challenge...
An early start
It’s just gone 5:53am on his watch and Joe Baker is about to set off on another one of his 5k runs.
“Just look at it, I think it’s beautiful, not a cloud in the sky,” he says as he takes in his surroundings with the sun starting to rise.
The 38-year-old is attempting to run 5k every single day though May, just short of 100 miles, to highlight the stigmas surrounding mental health, with a particular focus on the construction business.
According to The Lost City, a campaign which is aiming to show the impact mental health has had on those working in construction, 7,000 construction workers have taken their own life in the past decade.
The campaign estimates in that period, those workers could have built 150,000 homes, 80 schools and 3 hospitals.
Joe's story
Throughout the day Joe is a tradesman, and the founder of Second City Screed, a Midlands construction business.
About a mile into the run and starting to approach the halfway point, Joe opens up and talks to me about his own experiences with mental health and that he tried to take his own life.
“Running this route really hits home to me because I could not be here, but I am,” he says.
“In the past I struggled myself, I was an addict; I was really addicted to alcohol, I couldn’t function without it, I started my day with it, ended my day with it.
“Exercise and running though has given me that hit that I got from alcohol, so I’ve just replaced one for the other.”
Research from On The Tools published in their Behind the High-Vis: A Mental Health White Paper in May 2023 said just over a quarter (26%) of tradespeople are more likely than workers in other industries to experience mental ill health in the UK.
Other data also revealed more than 8 in 10 (84%) people who worked on their own in the industry experienced mental ill health.
Pushing through the pain
Heading into the final mile with the sun still shining, Joe admits the challenge has surprised him with just how tough it has been so far.
“I’m relatively fit anyways so I don’t think it’s been a huge challenge fitness wise, but I think I massively underestimated how sore my legs were going to be,” he says with a smile.
“When I’m in pain and running, I literally just think about all the people who are struggling with their mental health and how bad I was.
“I’m feeling tired, my legs are sore, but my heads really strong though which is why I’m keeping going.”
‘Something needs to be done’
Finish line crossed and another day down for Joe, but he knows he’s got a few more to come still yet.
He laughs when I mention a sprint finish to him, which he admits he is leaving for another time.
Alongside doing the challenge to highlight the impact mental health is having on construction workers and in general, he is also calling for more education to be made available on the topic.
“I just think something needs to be done, he says.
“It was never spoken about in my family, and I don’t think we’re ever going to stop people having mental health or dealing with it.
“If we can educate our children earlier though and give them ideas of coping mechanisms or how to spot other people struggling, all those kind of things, it might just make it easier for them when they get into their adult years.”
He’s set to finish his challenge on the 31st May.