In this Industry Insights we explored critical mental health and well-being issues facing the construction industry, with insights from MATES in Construction’s work in suicide prevention, community-driven support, and recent research findings.

We spoke with: 

Dr. Lauren Donnan - Research, Evaluation, and Innovation at MATES
Nate Tairea - Field Officer at MATES
John Chapman - CEO at MATES
Chris Alderson - CEO at CHASNZ
This will be useful for anyone in the construction sector concerned with worker well-being and mental health support, including any industry leaders, construction and Health and Safety managers, HR teams, workers on site, as well as mental health professionals and government/decision makers.

Key takeaways:

• Understanding the unique mental health challenges faced by construction workers and the importance of industry-specific support, which is relatable to other high-risk, male-dominated industries.
• Insights into the comprehensive suicide prevention and well-being strategies that MATES employs across various stages, from immediate assistance to long-term support.
• Recognition of the importance of tailored mental health programs and the role of community-driven support in effective mental health interventions.
• Practical examples and real-world stories to help attendees grasp how support makes a difference, including actionable insights.
• Perspective on how industry leaders and government can play a role in improving mental health outcomes within construction.
• The content in this webinar will be accessible to all - with insights and information that are relevant regardless of background in mental health. 

Our construction industry is losing nearly one person every week to suicide. MATES in Construction has one simple but hugely ambitious aim – to reduce the number of lives lost to suicide in the construction industry. Read more about MATES and the awesome mahi they do.