Content warning: this article discusses mental health and suicide.
Something positive to have come out of the covid years is that mental health is at the forefront of people’s minds and there is more willingness to talk about our own wellbeing. Despite this step forward, there remains a stigma for men talking to others about psychological stress and their feelings. Unfortunately, this stigma is rife in the construction industry.
In fact, the construction industry in Australia has the highest rate of male suicide, according to figures from the University of Melbourne and Deakin University. Men in the construction industry are 53 percent more likely to die by suicide than other employed males in this country. Sadly, a construction worker is lost to suicide every second day.
The research found that 93 percent of construction workers who had committed suicide in the past had never sought professional help, either because didn’t know where to find it, they didn’t want to, or they weren't encouraged to.
With deadlines and budgets exacerbating this problem, now more than ever, prioritising employee wellbeing is paramount. The national suicide prevention group, MATES, has been delivering industry-backed, research-based, suicide prevention and support since 2008.
The MATES model
MATES is a not-for-profit organisation that’s goal is to raise awareness of suicide as a preventable problem. Their field staff train workers to improve mental health and suicide prevention literacy, increase help seeking and help offering, and engage the workforce in creating a mentally healthy workplace.
Normalising the conversation
To support the people you work with, the most helpful thing you can do is to be part of the conversation. Even if you’re not personally struggling, knowing that it is possible to talk about what’s going on for those who aren’t coping, can make the world of difference. The more the topic of mental health and suicide is out there, the more we can continue to normalise the conversation, and ensure people can access care when they need it. We need to create a community full of people who are looking after their mates and helping people around them to feel more comfortable when it comes to seeking help. The workplace is where most people spend most of their time, so feeling safe and comfortable in that environment is so important. Building stronger and more resilient workers is the first step to confronting this problem.
Finding support
MATES offers a support line and case management to workers who need help. TIACS is a free and confidential chat, text, and callback service, providing early-intervention mental health support for Australia’s truckies, tradies, blue-collar workers, and those who care about them. Incolink’s Bluehats is a suicide prevention program that helps workers who are doing it tough by providing someone to talk to on-site. Beyond Blue provide information and support for anxiety, depression and suicide prevention in Australia. They also have information specific to males. Lifeline have a 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention service. For young people working in the industry, Headspace offers a free, confidential, one-to-one chat with a trained clinician.