Oral Presentation (max 20 mins) National Suicide Prevention Conference 2025

Baking it in! How social identity support participation in a workplace suicide prevention program. (#81)

Jorgen Gullestrup 1 , Samantha Thomas 2 , Tania King 3 , Anthony LaMontagne 4
  1. Deakin University, School of Health, PhD Candidate, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  2. Deakin University, School of Health and Social Development, Professor, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  3. University of Melbourne Centre for Health Equity, Associate Professor, Melbourne, VIctoria, aUSTRALIA
  4. Deakin University Work, Health and Wellbeing , Professor, Melbourne, Victoria, AUstralia

The WHO has identified suicide prevention and in particular the reduction in suicide by one third before 2030 as a major global priority.  In Australia just over 3000 lives are lost to suicide each year and three out of four are men.   Some industries such as the construction industry have been associated with much higher suicide rates than other industries.

Suicide prevention is an all-of-community responsibility where all have an important part to play.  The theme of the conference is “Together towards tomorrow”.  In this study we are examining how construction see and perform their role to create a suicide safer industry for the future. 

Qualitative research based on 30 interviews in the Queensland Construction workers have looked at why and how workers engage with suicide prevention through the MATES in Construction program.  The MATES in Construction program has a long-term objective of changing industry culture from suicide prevention being programs run within the industry towards a way of doing business in the industry, as a natural part of operating.

In this research we have found that attitudes towards help-seeking and interpersonal relationships in the industry seems to have shifted between 2006 and 2024 while the MATES program has operated in the industry.  While focus groups in 2005 found that workers were reluctant to discuss mental health and problems with their workmates, it now seems far more acceptable and normative.

In this presentation we will discuss how workers on construction sites actively participate in suicide prevention, establish networks of safety for their colleagues and how both business and workers seek to “bake” mental health and suicide prevention into business as usual within the industry.

In this presentation we will draw of findings from two studies for a common dataset to describe why construction workers volunteer with the MATES in Construction program, how this motivation impact how they volunteer and further how such volunteering impact industry norms and culture.

This research was led by a researcher identifying as have lived and living experience as a suicide survivor and all interview participants except two identified as having lived experience of suicide.