Constructive help for men who struggle

In an industry where male suicide is higher than any other in Australia, sometimes all you need is a mate to have your back.

THUMBS UP: Mates in Construction is aiming to end high rates of suicide in the male-dominated field. Picture: Contributed

IN AN industry where male suicide is higher than any other in Australia, sometimes all you need is a mate to have your back.

When Joe Pryor heard the sobering statistic that roughly 191 construction workers took their own lives each year, he decided to become a Mates in Construction connector.

For more than a decade, Mates in Construction has been dedicated to saving lives through providing workplace training and support for men to recognise when a co-worker is struggling.

Specifically, Mates Connector Training is one out of the three programs which allows those who volunteer to connect men in need with direct help to ensure no more lives are lost to suicide.

Mr Pryor works at a steel fixing company and said his experience as a connector made it more acceptable for men to open up about their dark thoughts.

"If you're in our industry, it's like we're going to battle every day,” he said.

"In the old nature of construction, there wasn't really that culture where you could talk to someone about your feelings.

"But now, there's a lot more deeper conversations around the smoko room table.

"Mates in Construction has made it more acceptable to have those problems without being looked upon as soft, because in reality, we're all been there or we're all dealing with those issues ourselves.”

Sunshine Coast field officer Erin Oldman runs the connector training classes and said Mates in Construction aimed to reduce the stigma around toxic masculinity in the male-dominated field.

"For a lot of men, there's shame or pride involved in saying that you're struggling,” she said.

"But by speaking to your peers and they say they've felt the same way before, you realise it's OK to not be OK, but it's not OK to do nothing about it.

"So it's really helping men to open up about their financial or relationship struggles, which a lot of time can be a trigger for suicide.”

Ms Oldman said the training the men received didn't just stay on-site.

"While it's a workplace program, the skills that they learn as a mate are carried out in the community as well.

"They can use it at home with their family, or in their footy clubs, or out fishing with their friends.

"We're actually having a ripple effect of reducing stigma and suicide rates in the wider community,” she said.

Ms Oldman will run connector training at the Master Builders' office on King St, Buderim, on Thursday, June 20, from 8.30am to 12.30pm.

Head to www.facebook.com/events/1886159014821365/ for more information.

If you or a loved one need support call Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636.