Suicide in construction industry costing $1.57bn

Death from suicide is six times more likely for workers in the construction industry than workplace-related fatalities, with a report by MATES in Construction (MIC) showing it has a staggering estimated cost to Australia of over $1 billion each year.

The national suicide prevention group recently released the Doran Reports, compiled by researchers from the University of Newcastle and Deakin University, which explored the costs of suicide and non-fatal suicide behaviour (NFSB) in the Australian construction industry (CI).

The study found that for every suicide there are 15 attempts, with three (17%) resulting in full incapacity and 12 (83%) resulting in short absence, estimated at annually costing $1.57 billion.

The majority of this is attributed to the cost associated with NFSB resulting in full incapacity (76.5% of total costs), followed by the cost of suicide (23.3% of total costs).

Based on data from 2012, where 169 male CI workers lost their life to suicide, WA reportedly accounted for the highest costs with 29.4%, followed by NSW at 22.7% and Qld at 22.1%.

The report authors stated the analysis focused on the human cost of suicide in the CI, but did not consider the wider implications to industry such as damage to property, loss of company image or the considerable investment the industry makes complying with work health and safety regulations — implying it could be considerably higher.

“Given the significant cost of this largely preventable problem, more effort needs to be devoted to addressing mental health in the CI,” the report stated.

MIC said the findings demonstrate the need for greater investment in training construction workers to recognise that a co-worker is unwell before it is too late.

The group said it has trained over 87,000 construction workers in General Awareness Training to recognise when a worker is struggling and has set a target of 15% reduction in the rate of construction-related suicides in the next five years.

MIC also calls on state and federal governments to ensure adequate funding for workplace-based suicide prevention activities.

For more information, go to www.matesinconstruction.org.au.