Can We Talk: NSW apprentices to get mental health training to help arrest high suicide rate

YOUNG apprentices new to the rough and tumble world of construction will have access to emergency mental health assistance.

A new pilot program is designed to help young trades such as third-year apprentice electricians Jack Smith and Shelby Irwin.

• Register here for the Can We Talk free forums
• The terrible tragedies of young lives lost
• The words that saved my life
• Facing the tough reality of youth suicides

YOUNG construction workers are up to three times more likely to commit suicide than teenagers outside the industry.

A deadly combination of a blokey culture, hard physical work, bullying, alcohol abuse and mental health ­issues often creates a workplace that is hazardous to young workers.

But there is hope that apprentices new to the tough world of construction will now have access to emergency mental health assistance.

The state government has backed a pilot program that aims to reach 250 apprentices in Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle over the next year.

It is aimed at reducing the number of young construction workers taking their own lives, which is two to three times more likely to happen compared to 15- to 24-year-olds outside of the industry.

Suicide is already the leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds and suicide rates are at their highest level in 10 years, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

If successful, the Life Skills Toolbox program will be rolled out across the state, replicating a similar program in Queensland.

Mental Health Minister Pru Goward launched the program from a high-rise construction site at Bondi Junction this week.

She told The Sunday Telegraph this intervention was vital and the program is part of the government’s suicide prevention strategy.

“There is no silver bullet for something as complex as self-harm and particularly suicide,” she said.

“There is going to need to be a range of strategies; one (program) is not going to work for everything. But, if you are serious about getting numbers down, how can you ignore the construction industry?

“It’s about knowing that if you are depressed or anxious that you can actually go and speak to someone and not let it grow and grow in your mind.

“There is one guy here who spends all day looking at brick walls, completely on his own, six floors up.

“How long is it before you start to think about your own thoughts over and over again?”

The $100,000 grant will fund programs to help suicide awareness, ­nutrition, fatigue, drug and alcohol issues, financial literacy and bullying.

The program will be run on building sites and in TAFE colleges by charity Mates In Construction, which started in 2008.

Despite their relatively short ­careers, young electrical apprentices Shelby Irwin and Jack Smith have witnessed bullying, alcohol abuse and mental health issues.

Ms Irwin said the blokey culture on construction sites means many people drink to deal with their issues, rather than talking to someone.

“The construction industry is ­pretty macho so a lot of people are embarrassed to talk about mental health issues,” the 20-year-old said.

“It’s good to be in a position where I recognise the signs and not wait until something bad happens.

“Being a female on a building site, you find people tend to open up to you more. So you learn a lot about ­issues that people are having.”

Mr Smith said the 24/7 helpline was the most vital thing for him.

“Even if you don’t have a specific mental health issue you can call up and speak to someone,” the 19-year-old said. “There is a lot of tension ­between trades on a site and it can create problems.”

YOU MUST BE REGISTERED TO ATTEND THE FREE FORUMS. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND SEE FORUM DETAILS