This week is MATES in Construction Fly the Flag Day. Today marks World Suicide Prevention Day, a global observance observed in over 60 countries, uniting us in a shared mission to reduce stigma, advocate for policy changes, promote help-seeking, and honour the memories of those lost to suicide, those who have survived suicide attempts, and the loved ones who carry the weight of grief.
Master Builders NSW is proud to Fly the Flag today to raise mental health awareness and start the conversations on suicide prevention.
It is a day when we celebrate the work our industry Connectors, ASIST, and MATES volunteers do daily to improve mental health and prevent suicide among building and construction workers.
It is an outward display to the broader community of our industry's daily important work toward improving mental health and preventing suicide.
Knowledge about mental health in the Australian building and construction industry has steadily improved – interestingly, more significantly in small business awareness and regionally.
There have been relatively few systematic and evaluated programs to address mental health and suicide in the Building and Construction Industry.
In response, the building and construction industry has stepped forward and developed programs and support mechanisms that are genuinely innovative and see the sector positioned at the forefront internationally of work to address suicide and mental health through the workplace.
By building a network of appropriately trained suicide prevention gatekeepers, we can strengthen our local safety net.
Mental health and suicide prevention are everyone's business, and when we look out for our mates, we protect the essential commodity in our industry: people.
For workers in the building and construction industry, suicide seems to be a part of the reality of working in the industry. Work within the residential, commercial and civil sectors is highly transient, with most workers employed on a project-by-project basis for a few weeks to, at best, a few years.
There are over one million (1,357,700) construction workers in Australia. Construction workers are six times more likely to die by suicide than through a workplace accident. Apprentices in construction aged between 15 and 24 were ten times more likely to suicide than other young people their age.
Improving mental health is essential to ensuring that skills obtained by construction workers in New South Wales are retained in the industry and used as efficiently as possible. We must provide a sustainable and safe workplace that attracts workers and keeps them on their career paths.
We recognise, though, that more needs to be done to ensure that the whole industry aligns with the goals of reducing the tragically high rates of suicide and delivering better mental health outcomes for all in the industry.
Do you or someone you know need support? Contact Mates Helpline on 1300 642 111. MATES Helpline is available 24/7.
