Poster Presentation National Suicide Prevention Conference 2025

MATES Respond Postvention and Critical Incident Peer Support in the Building and Construction Industry  (#142)

Nicholas Thompson 1 , Rebecca Loudoun 2 , James Lacey 1
  1. Mates in Construction Qld-NT, Spring Hill, QUEENSLAND, Australia
  2. Centre for Work Organisation and Wellbeing , Griffith University , Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

MATES is an independent construction industry charity established in 2007 in response to construction workforce rates of suicide in Australia. In 2019 MATES started a 3 part research project aimed at understanding industry needs for onsite, worker-led postvention and critical incident support after a site-based suicide or fatality and developing a program to meet these needs.

 

MATES Respond Program Development

The MATES Respond Programmed was developed using three distinct studies to inform the process and content design: (1)  theoretical underpinnings of the postvention and critical incident program (Pearce et al, 2021); (2) worker influences, worker voice (Maple et al, 2020); and, preexisting programs and case-note analysis (Biggs et al, 2024). The resulting ‘Mates Respond’ Program focuses on three main areas:


(a) connecting with the event,
(b), understanding the event, and
(c) assisting workers on site

 

Once the program was designed, a rigorous evaluation of the effectiveness fo the project was undertaken over a two-year period. This session will provide an overview of this evaluation.

 

MATES Respond Program Evaluation

This study engaged a quasi-experimental 2 x 3 design, with data collected from approximately 60 construction workers who completed the MATES Respond program (Intervention Group -) and approximately 30 construction workers who did not complete MATES Respond Program (Control Group before the training (Pre-Intervention Phase), after completing the training (Post-Intervention Phase), and approximately 3 months (for a smaller cohort) after completing the training (Follow-Up Phase).

Data were gathered using validated scales on giving and receiving emotional support (emotional support scales; Shakespeare-Finch & Obst, 2011), distress tolerance (Distress Tolerance Scale Short-Form; Garner et al., 2016), anxiety (Brief State and Trait Anxiety; Zsido et al., 2020), resilience (Brief Resilience Scale; Smith et al., 2008), and stress (Perceived Stress Scale; Cohen, 1983).

Results will be presented of correlational analyses, repeated-measures MANOVAs, and chi-squared difference tests, used to determine if perceptions of confidence and ability increased for Mates Responder Training participants from pre- to post- intervention (including follow-up), in comparison to the control group across three areas:

  1. Perceived impact of an event after the training;
    2. Perceived ability or resilience to be able to respond to a critical incident, death or suicide after training;
    3. Perceived ability to actually give and receive support after the training.
  1. Biggs, A., Townsend, K., Loudoun, R., Robertson, A., Mason, J., Maple, M., ... & Thompson, N. (2024). Towards an Evidence-Based Critical Incidents and Suicides Response Program in Australian Construction. Buildings 2024, 14, 2797. htps. doi. org/10.3390/buildings14092797 Academic Editor: Rafiq Muhammad Choudhry Received, 2.
  2. Loudoun, R. Biggs, A., Robertson, A., Townsend, K. (2024) Evaluation of the MATES in Construction Respond Training Program, Post Suicide and Incident Support. 65a7510fe8437ea5b75288bf_MATES Respond Evaluation.pdf (website-files.com)
  3. Maple, M., Wayland, S., Pearce, T., Bugeja, L., Lal, T., & Jamieson, N. (2020). Reducing the Impact of Critical Incidence and Suicide on Construction Workers: A Rapid Review and Qualitative Study (Doctoral dissertation, School of Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New England, Armidale NSW Australia).
  4. Pearce, T., Bugeja, L., Wayland, S., & Maple, M. (2021). Effective elements for workplace responses to critical incidents and suicide: a rapid review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(9), 4821.