Source: MATES in Construction
The lives of more construction workers will be saved as a result of the Government boosting funding for mental health and suicide prevention charity MATES in Construction New Zealand.
MATES in Construction is delighted to have secured new funding, following a successful application to the Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund.
“MATES saves lives so receiving this funding will help us to continue and expand our valuable work of raising awareness of mental health and ensuring workers can identify when they or their mates might be doing it tough,” said MATES Chief Executive John Chapman.
Construction sector workers are seven times more likely to die from suicide than from an accident on a construction site. We lose more than one construction worker a week to suicide, one of the highest of any industry group. Right now, the economic downturn is impacting the sector, putting even more pressure on the workforce.
“This is a time when mental health support is needed more than ever so securing this funding will build on our success to date. Any investment in what we do has huge payoffs for our workers, their whānau and communities, the health system, and the economy.”
The organisation partners with industry and government to provide mental health support through awareness and suicide prevention education delivered on construction sites and runs a 24/7 Helpline. It helps those identified as at risk with timely, 1:1 Case Management support and connects them to ongoing formal support if required.
Funding provided through the Innovation Fund will support MATES to expand further into the regions. Funding will also support new training programmes in 2025 that have been requested by the industry.
Workers survey underlines success
Since inception in 2019 MATES has delivered over 4,500 training courses to more than 70,000 workers at thousands of construction sites across New Zealand.
“We are seeing a real difference in workers’ understanding of how to support their mental health, how they can identify a mate struggling and knowing how to seek help themselves when facing their own challenges.”
The latest MATES Reach and Impact Report surveyed 8000 workers who have participated in a MATES training in 2024. It shows how MATES programmes are helping to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and increase suicide prevention literacy among workers. For example, pre- to post-training surveys showed:
● Confidence in noticing a colleague struggling rose from 47% to 81%
● Confidence in connecting colleagues to help rose from 66% to 94%
● Awareness of where to seek help rose from 73% to 94%
“Every day we are making a difference to the lives of construction workers so this funding will help expand our successful programmes, reach more parts of the industry across the country and ensure more workers get the help they need when they need it,” said John Chapman.
