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Disclaimer: This article discusses suicide and mental health.

With World Suicide Prevention Day around tomorrow and Mental Health Awareness Week coming up, it is a good time to stop for a second and talk about how we are actually doing on site.

The tough reality in New Zealand’s construction sector is that our industry loses nearly one person every single week to suicide, and almost all of them are men. In fact, construction workers in Aotearoa are nine times more likely to die by suicide than from a workplace accident. Those aren’t just statistics, they’re subbies, apprentices, long-time mates, and family members.

A big part of why the construction industry feels like such a pressure cooker comes down to the volatile nature of the work. Construction is notorious for brutal boom-and-bust cycles. One minute you’re pulling 60-hour weeks trying to hit deadlines, stretched to absolute capacity, dealing with supply chain delays, and running on pure exhaustion. The next, the market shifts, work dries up, and you’re carrying the stress of cash flow, mortgage payments, and keeping a business afloat.

That unpredictable cycle, paired with physical demands and an old-school culture that tells us to “harden up”, creates a perfect storm. Pressure builds up fast, and too many individuals try to carry it alone.

That’s where MATES in Construction comes in. They get on site across Aotearoa to break down that silence. Instead of sitting through corporate training sessions, MATES connects with workers on-site by providing training on how to look out for one another, bridge the gap to professional support, and build a culture where speaking up is just part of looking out for your crew.

You don’t need to be a counselor or have all the answers to make a difference. Most of the time, it comes down to noticing if there are any changes in a person. Maybe they’re unusually quiet, short-tempered, or just looking completely worn out. Taking ten seconds to ask how they’re doing can make all the difference.

A simple “Hey mate, you seem a bit off lately, everything alright?” goes a long way. You don’t have to fix their problems. Just putting your tools down, listening without judgment, letting them know you’ve got their back, and telling them where to go to find help can make all the difference.

Where to Turn for Support

If things are feeling heavy for you or someone you work with, don’t carry it alone:

• MATES in Construction 24/7 Helpline: Call 0800 111 315
• Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 anytime to speak with a trained counselor.
• Your Workplace EAP: Ask your employer if confidential counseling is available through an Employee Assistance Programme.