New research from commercial insurer NFU Mutual depicts a harsh emotional landscape for tradespeople as they struggle to contend with crime and impact on mental health.

And with more than 90% of tradespeople saying they or someone they know have been a victim of theft, the survey results make grim reading for SMEs and sole traders in Gloucestershire.

A staggering 92% of respondents either had first-hand experience of crime or knew of it happening to a colleague.

The research revealed that:

● More than nine in 10 tradespeople say they or someone they know have been victims of theft.

● 88% are concerned about the ongoing issue.

● Almost a third of tradespeople admit the fear of theft contributes to negative mental health.

● 60% in the industry do not believe mental health is spoken about openly.

Zoe Knight, Commercial Specialist at NFU Mutual, said: "Theft of tradespeople's tools or equipment continues to blight the industry and the fact 92% of people surveyed say they - or someone they know - have been a victim speaks volumes.

"Tradespeople rely on this equipment for their income and livelihood, with crime hitting not just their pocket but, as our research shows, also having a huge and negative impact on their mental health.

"To see a third of tradespeople fearing theft or violence in their day-to-day job is worrying and we would urge tradespeople to do all they can to offput the threat of that happening - via security measures and recording serial numbers of equipment."

She added: "We want tradespeople to feel supported and protected should the worst happen and know there is also help available for those struggling."

A December report by Builders Merchants News revealed that texts to a construction charity helpline had seen an increase of 105% after the launch of an initiative to take the mental health message across the UK.

The NFU says such initiatives could pave the way for more open conversations, given that its own survey showed that more than half of respondents believe mental health isn't spoken about openly in the trades industry.

While more than three-quarters of tradespeople did tell the NFU they were confident or fairly confident they would know where to go for support if they were struggling, worryingly, almost four in 10 (36%) said it is unlikely they would seek help if they had mental health problems.

Jason Jaspal, Assistant Director of Business Development at Samaritans, said: "It's vital that tradespeople reach out for support when they are finding life tough, rather than letting things build up and potentially reaching a crisis point. It doesn't matter what they're finding challenging, Samaritans is here so they don't have to face things alone."

● NFU Mutual is a proud supporter of Samaritans, which offers round-the-clock emotional support to anyone struggling to cope.