Association News, Australia, Safety

Combatting suicide in construction with MATES’ ‘Fly the Flag’ campaign

A crawler crane with its boom upright works in a sunlit construction site.

**Content warning: discusses suicide** Over 100,000 workers will be taking part in MATES ‘Fly the Flag’ events across Australia to raise awareness of suicide in construction.

‘Fly the Flag’ is an event inviting construction sites, offices, and workplaces Australia-wide to display the MATES flag prominently to serve as a reminder of the industry’s commitment to supporting its workforce and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

Currently, the construction industry has the highest suicide rate of any industry in the country, and MATES’ ‘Fly the Flag’ events will seek to raise awareness, foster solidarity, and provide support for workers who may be experiencing mental health challenges.

“We hope Fly the Flag meetings around Australia this week will encourage workplace conversations about mental health. We have a problem with mental health and suicide in our industry and we need to talk about it,” said Brad Parker, MATES NSW Chief Executive.

“Our society perceives blue collar workers as strong and steadfast, but the reality is sometimes different to the perception. Everyone has a responsibility to check in with their workmates from time to time and as an industry, we need to do better in addressing poor mental health, loneliness, and the type of anxiety that if swept under the carpet, can be debilitating.”

During Fly the Flag events this week, organisations are encouraged to engage their workers in various activities focused on mental health and well-being. These activities may include toolbox talks, workshops, awareness sessions, and distributing resources that promote mental wellness. MATES provides a comprehensive toolkit bag that includes a flag to fly, posters and stickers.

Established in 2008, MATES is an industry led non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting better mental health and suicide prevention within the construction industry and other blue-collar sectors.

Feeling low and need a professional to talk to? Call Beyond Blue’s 24/7 service on 1300 22 4636, or talk online here.

READ MORE: Safety with CICA Bulletin #323: Suicide in Construction.

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