‘Concerning’ rate prompts call for targeted suicide prevention throughout sector

A new report reveals 25 per cent of all South Australians who took their own life worked in the construction industry.

One in four South Australians who died by suicide over nearly two decades worked in the construction industry, it can be revealed.

The “concerning” statistic from a recent national report is prompting a local push for more suicide intervention support across the industry, expected to grow significantly over the next four years in the shadow of the pandemic’s mental health impact.

Using latest official suicide data, Melbourne University researchers can reveal 209 of the 843 South Australians who took their own lives from 2001 to 2018 worked in construction.

“The statistics are indeed concerning and tells us that suicide remains unacceptably high among construction workers,” the study’s co-author Dr Tania King.

Dr Tania King, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne.

MATES in Construction SA operations manager Bob Clifford.

“We can see that the rate of suicide among male construction workers in Australia is substantially higher – approximately two times higher – than that among non-construction workers,” she said.

Dr King said key strategies to reduce suicide in the construction industry could include creating and supporting mentally healthy work environments.

The study does not include the impact of COVID-19 – a contributing factor to rising mental health admissions across every country ED since October last year, as reported by the Advertiser’s Let’s Talk mental health campaign.

“With the impacts of COVID-19 putting an even greater strain on an already high-risk industry, coupled with the predicted increase in the SA construction workforce, there needs to be a greater focus on the mental health of our people,” said MATES in Construction SA operations manager Bob Clifford.

Mr Clifford said the state government was investing $16.7b in infrastructure over the next four years, creating more than 19,000 jobs.

“It’s more important than ever right now that the industry actively supports suicide prevention programs that are dedicated to the construction industry and provide their people with the support they need,” he said.

MATES in Construction aims to reduce suicide in the construction industry through training and ongoing support built on the practice of workplace gatekeepers – ‘mates looking after mates’.

The only one of its kind in SA, the charity has trained 25,000 people since 2012 and relies on industry and government partnerships.

HOW ONE SA CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IS LEADING THE WAY

Construction work is tough. It’s an industry beholden to a revolving door of deadlines and challenges dependent on unpredictable external pressures.

And its core labour force – men aged in their mid-20 to 50s is a high suicide risk demographic. Research reveals that around 190 Australians working in the construction industry die by suicide each year.

“Add the overlay of COVID and we have the situation of increased anxiety and the associated risk of deteriorating mental health,” says Sarah Construction CEO Adrian Esplin.

Sarah Constructions is one of South Australia’s leading commercial builders, employing more than 200 staff. It is now the first construction company in the nation to help its employees track their mental health and wellbeing to build resilience and practice preventive measures based on six-years of SA research.

CEO of SARAH Constructions, Adrian Esplin. Picture: Dean Martin

SAHMRI Wellbeing and Resilience Centre’s Joep van Agteren SAHMRI. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“We are concerned the COVID environment has placed further stress and anxiety on our people, so we want to be sure we are supporting them in the best possible way and our partnership with SAHMRI – we believe – is the right way forward,” said Mr Esplin.

The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) has just launched a commercial entity of its evidence-based mental health support services under the banner Be Well Co.

Sarah Constructions are among Be Well Co.’s first clients to receive bespoke products including the Be Well Tracker, Be Well Plan and access to licensed trainers, including multiple Paralympic gold medallist Katrina Webb.

Part of Be Well Co.’s profits will be returned to research so that SAHMRI can continue to map how entire communities and cities are coping.

“Mental health and wellbeing is just like physical health and wellbeing – the more we exercise it, the less likelihood there is that we’ll succumb to illness,” said Joep van Agteren, co-founder of Be Well Co and the research lead at SAHMRI’s Wellbeing and Resilience Centre

For help call MATES in Construction’s 24/7 free helpline on 1300 642 111, or Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.