Despite its vibrancy, New Zealand's construction industry faces significant challenges, including high rates of suicide, with one worker lost to suicide every five days in 2023. This presentation shares key findings from the 2023-24 MATES Construction Industry Well-being Survey, offering insights into the mental health and well-being of over 2,100 workers. Aligned with MATES’ mission to promote mental well-being and reduce suicide risk, the survey identifies major psychosocial stressors and tracks year-on-year trends to guide targeted support within the sector.
The multi-language survey, conducted both online and onsite, highlights persistent disparities in well-being and ill-being across worker groups. While overall self-reported well-being has improved, workers with mental illness or disabilities, non-binary individuals, younger workers, and those lacking social support continue to experience significantly higher ill-being, including stress and psychological distress. Notably, 17% of respondents reported a disability, illness, mental illness, or physical impairment, with Māori, apprentices, and non-binary workers disproportionately affected. Of those reporting a disability or illness, 14% attributed their condition to construction-related work.
Worryingly, over 20% of workers reported suicidal thoughts within the four months preceding the survey. Elevated risks were noted among workers with mental illness or disabilities, Pasifika individuals, younger workers aged 15-24, non-binary individuals, and blue-collar workers, particularly when they had less than five years in the industry or experienced poor social support.
The survey identified a combination of workplace and home-life stressors contributing to poor mental health outcomes. Work-related stressors such as job demands, lack of support, and strained relationships, alongside personal challenges like poor physical health and relationship issues, exacerbated distress.
The presentation provides practical recommendations to continue sparking change, including scaling up MATES and similar programs to enhance suicide prevention and postvention by equipping the workforce to support those at risk and affected by suicide. It also emphasises the need for targeted, tailored support for higher-risk groups, strengthening workplace support networks, and reducing stressors while increasing protective factors identified by workers. The focus will be on fostering human-centred workplace design and team culture. The presentation captures the real-life experiences of diverse workers, ensuring that support measures are responsive to their unique needs.
Finally, the presentation explores how these findings are shaping future governmental policies and their relevance to mental health strategies across various sectors in New Zealand and Australia. Audience members will gain actionable insights to implement targeted support strategies and improve well-being outcomes, igniting hope as we work “Together Towards Tomorrow.”