Preventing suicides in the construction industry

In Australia, more than 2,000 people die from suicide every year and more than three out of four suicides are men.The suicide rate for young workers in the Queensland construction industry is more than two times higher than the national average for men -  this means a construction worker is up to six times more likely to die from suicide than from an accident at work. To address this problem, Queensland's construction industry workers established a charity, MATES in Construction. The organisation works to improve the mental health and wellbeing of workers through a range of different training programs and initiatives.

It is estimated that up to 200,000 Australians attempt suicide every year. Studies have shown that 5 to 6% of the population (1 in 20 or over 1 million Australians) will consider suicide over a 12 month period¹. A study conducted by the Queensland commercial building and construction industry found that mortality rates from suicide were significantly higher than the already very high mortality rate from suicide in Australia generally. In fact, a construction worker was 1.75 times more likely to die from suicide than an average Australian man. If the construction worker is between 15 and 24 years of age, the chances of dying from suicide was found to be more than two times higher than for other Australian men of a similar age².

To put these figures into context, a Queensland construction worker is six times more likely to die from suicide than a fatal accident on site, and for young workers, the likelihood is almost 10 times greater.

‘Mates helping mates’

The Queensland construction industry developed MATES in Construction. In essence, MATES in Construction is about ‘mates helping mates’ within an ‘industry helping industry' framework. Since its launch in October 2008, the program has spread like wildfire throughout the industry.

Currently more than 160 sites are participating, involving more than 17,000 workers. In late 2011, the program was also established in Perth, Western Australia with 1,500 workers now trained in suicide awareness and prevention. The MATES in Construction program has been awarded the prestigious national LIFE Award (Business and Industry) three years in a row (2009, 2010 and 2011) as the nation’s best workplace-based suicide prevention program.

The MIC Program is simple and easy to run in the workplace and has proven to be extremely effective in raising awareness, improving help seeking and assisting workers in need³. MIC’s aim is for every Queensland construction site to be MIC accredited with the right mix of workers trained in suicide awareness and prevention. The three training sessions (explained below) that form the program are about helping workers to look after their mates and ensuring that they can easily connect to high-quality help.

General awareness training

An initial general awareness training (GAT) session is held for all workers on a participating site. The site then conducts top-up sessions to ensure that 80% or more of all workers on site have done the GAT training. GAT takes about an hour and discusses the issue of suicide, the signs of emotional distress and how to get help. Workers can ask for help at this point. MIC has found that 3 to 5% do ask for help.

During GAT, or at any time, workers can also nominate to become a 'Connector.' On a participating site, 5% of workers are trained as Connectors, a mate who can keep you safe while connecting the struggling worker to help.

A study in Western Australia has shown that construction workers’ awareness of mental health issues, and suicide in particular, is fairly low and opinions are often based on popular myths⁴. Once implemented, the program works by having all workers keep an eye out for each other. Through GAT, mental health issues are de-stigmatised and discussion is opened up.

Connector training

Connector training is run on site and takes four hours. The site will ensure they have access to a suicide first-aid resource - an ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) worker. This may be a safety officer or first aid officer on site, or the site may use MATES in Construction Field Officers as ASIST workers when required. Having Connectors clearly visible on sites makes it easy for workers to act if they see behaviour that concerns them or if they are struggling themselves. Connectors are trained to keep the person safe and then connect them to a suicide first-aid resource.

ASIST suicide first-aid

Suicide first-aid ASIST training can be compared to ordinary CPR. It is not treatment or aimed at fixing the problem, but part of the initial and often lifesaving first response. It involves an assessment of the situation and an appropriate response to keep the person safe. Once safe, the person is passed on to the MATES in Construction case manager who establishes a plan with the person at risk to deal with the underlying issues causing the crisis in the first place (social situations, loss, financial stress, mental illness).

Of the 17,000 participating workers, 1,300 went on to become Connectors and 250 of these have become ASIST workers. As the network is decentralised, it is impossible to estimate exactly how many workers have been helped by the program or even how many lives has been saved by these volunteers. However, what MIC does know is that more than 1,200 workers have received case management following this process.

MATES in Construction connects two to three workers to help every day and its field officers intervene in a workers suicide plans once or twice per week.

Through the support of the industry, employers, workers, unions, industry funds and state government there are families who still have a father today. MATES in Construction is a registered charity available to the industry at no charge.

For more information about MATES in Construction visit matesinconstruction.org.au

¹ Ramsay, R.F. & Bagley, C. (1985). The prevalence of suicidal behaviours, attitudes and associated social experiences in an urban population. The Journal of Suicide and Life-Threatening Behaviours, 15 (3), 151-167.

²Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention (2006) Suicide in Queensland’s Commercial Building and Construction Industry - An investigation of factors associated with suicide and recommendations for the prevention of suicide. Griffith University. Brisbane.

³Gullestrup J, Lequertier B & Martin G (2011) MATES in Construction: Impact of a Multimodal, Community-Based Program for Suicide Prevention in the Construction Industry. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2011, 8, 4180-4196.

⁴Sellenger Centre for Research in Law, Justice and Social Change (2012). Construction site employees: Edit Cowan University 1 Life Suicide Prevention Strategy Research Report. Edith Cowan University, Perth.