They're self-proclaimed typical 'she'll be right” hard-nosed tradies, working together to fix an industry wide problem.

Tauranga business Marra Construction and MATES in Construction share an inspiring aim – to reduce the number of lives lost to suicide in the construction industry.

Health and safety coordinator Bradley Debnam was motivated to help the effort.

'In 2019, construction had the highest male suicide rate for any occupational group,” says Bradley.

Bradley and his team are collaborating with MATES Construction – a suicide prevention organisation operating since 2019.

'MATES is expanding, and we're so stoked to pick them up here in Tauranga. We want as many Tauranga businesses as possible to get involved with what they do.”

For Bradley, the topic of mental health hits home.

Personally, he knows of two people who have taken their own life in his line of work.

This is why Bradley and his team of builders are shifting their focus to constructing a new support system.

'MATES engage with workers through on-site training and provide those identified as at risk with case management assistance, which connects them to suitable professional support.”

The training involves 'opening everyone's eyes” to the problem in the construction industry, and then, for anyone who is willing to take it a step further, the option is there to become a connector, who are able to look for signals and assist those at risk.

People who continue this training are better placed to connect someone going through a tough time to some help.

'As a business, we are about to have two of our construction sites MATES accredited. This means we have people on site who have been trained to help people in the suicide and mental health space.”

Bradley wants to raise more awareness, and says he wants more businesses to take on the MATES in Construction support system, to help other builders in the Bay of Plenty.

'The industry as a whole has the kind of ‘she'll be right, harden up' mentality. I think the high suicide rate comes from this mentality, and not talking about things or opening up. We're trying to change this stigma and teach people it is good to talk about things.”

So far, Bradley says our tradies involved in the course are 'loving it” and are happy to take this new mentality on board.

'We've got people who have been here since day one who are involved, in their 50s and 60s. We've also got people who are fresh out of school getting involved. There's a real range.

'After the training, we have referred a few people to the employee assistance program, EAP, which has actually never been done before. It's a positive sign the attitude is changing.”