MATES in Construction is an independent charity that exists to reduce the high level of suicide in the Australian construction and allied industries. Our integrated program of training and ongoing support is designed specifically for the construction industry and is based on the simple idea that suicide is everyone’s business. It provides ways for the Australian construction and allied industries to take an active role in improving the mental health and wellbeing of workers which means everyone plays a part, rather than leaving it to mental health professionals. MATES has trained around 30,000 construction workers in South Australia since inception in 2012, reducing stigma and developing a community-supported approach to early intervention and suicide prevention. Our program focuses on help-offering by building a community of people who look out for each other – ‘mates looking out for mates’. This means we equip people to offer help to others, rather than providing a service people need to go looking for. This then has a ripple effect as the people who complete our training take the skills beyond work to their family, friends, and wider community.
