MATES in Construction has one simple but hugely ambitious aim – to reduce the number of lives lost to suicide in the construction industry. In 2019, construction had the highest male suicide rate for any occupational group.

The MATES delivery model is not linear, it moves back and forth – each site has its own community ecosystem which exists within the greater industry environment. Therefore, what we do on one site will influence other sites.

The provision of training, case management and helpline services are elements of our model, but there is a complex interaction between all the different parts. The true value of MATES is not the sum of these elements, but how they exponentially build on each other.

Suicide Prevention in Construction - Mates in Construction NZ