The document discusses suicide rates in the construction industry in Australia. It notes that: - Construction workers are over two times more likely to die by suicide than other Australian men, and young construction workers are almost six times more likely to die from suicide than workplace accidents. - MATES NSW is a charity established to address the high suicide rate in the construction industry. Their programs include training workers to identify signs of suicide and connect at-risk individuals to help. - Master Builders NSW is partnering with MATES NSW to provide suicide prevention training workshops to 3000 construction workers in Sydney. The goal is to train workers to help prevent suicide among their colleagues and peers.

1. WORKPLACE, HEALTH & SAFETY
A
ccording to Mates In Construction NSW
(MATES NSW), construction workers are
more than two times more likely to die
by suicide than Australian men. Indeed, young
construction workers are almost six times more
likely to die from suicide than workplace
accidents.
MATES NSW is a charity set up to try
and combat the terrible rate of suicide
in the industry. According to CEO Brad
Parker, 190 people in the construction
industry take their own lives every year.
The charity has reduced suicide by
almost 8 per cent since its formation in
2009.
“We have a straightforward model, but
it’s very effective. We have created a
network of carers who will assist people
in identifying the signs of suicide and
connecting those people to help,” Mr
Parker says.
“The Program uses the world’s best
practices tailored into language that
construction workers understand.
The genius of construction industry
management and employees came together for
the common good of everybody on a site, to
prevent suicide in the workplace,” he says.
MATES NSW offers three areas of training
across the industry:
• General Awareness Training (GAT) —
training is delivered to at least 80% of workers
on-site and is delivered en masse and on-site.
This training introduces workers to the
nature of the problem, that it is okay to
talk about mental health, and provides
practical guidance on how they can
assist.
• Connector Training — provided to
those people on site who volunteer
to become a Connector — a person
trained to help keep someone safe in a
crisis while at the same time connecting
them to professional help.
• Applied Suicide Intervention
Skills Training (ASIST) — equips
individuals to become ASIST workers,
comparable to the first aid officer
on-site. ASIST workers will talk to a
person contemplating suicide to make
this person ‘safe’. Using simple skills,
an ASIST worker will listen to the
person’s concerns and respond to them
appropriately to reach a ‘safe plan’.
By Omesh Jethwani, Government Projects & Programs Manager
Suicide Is No Longer A Dirty Word!
Brad Parker,
CEO Mates NSW
Issue Two | April-June 2022 | MBA NSW 27
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2. WORKPLACE, HEALTH & SAFETY WORKPLACE, HEALTH & SAFETY
• Suicide was the most common cause of
death for adults aged 15-44, with 1,612
deaths by suicide in this group.
Men
• Consistent with previous years, males are
three times more likely to die by suicide
than females. Males accounted for 75.9%
of deaths by suicide (2,384 deaths); this
represents an age-standardised suicide
death rate of 18.6 per 100,000 people
(compared with a rate of 5.8 for females).
• Men over 85 are particularly impacted, with
36.2 deaths by suicide per 100,000.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
• In 2020 there were 223 Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples died by suicide.
• The median age of death by suicide of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
was 31.3 years, more than a decade younger
than the median age of death by suicide for
the general population of 43.5 years.
Region
• When looking at State and Territory data,
Northern Territory had the highest age-
standardised rate of deaths by suicide at 20
per 100,000.
• All states except Northern Territory and the
Australian Capital Territory had decreases in the
number of suicides between 2019 and 2020.
• Age-standardised rates of death by suicide
were higher in regional Australia: 15.7 deaths
per 100,000 outside capital cities, compared
with 10.3 deaths per 100,000 in capital cities.
• The most significant difference was in
Western Australia, with an age-standardised
death by a suicide rate of 12.7 per 100,000
in Greater Perth, compared with 20.8 per
100,000 in the rest of the state.
Risk Factors
• In 2020, over 90% of people who died by
suicide had at least one risk factor reported.
Both mental and behavioural disorders and
psychosocial risk factors were present in over
two-thirds of deaths of people who died by
suicide. People who died by suicide had an
average of 3-4 risk factors.
• The proportion of suicide deaths recording
at least one psychosocial risk factor was
67.1%.
• The three most frequently occurring
psychosocial risk factors for men were:
a personal history of self-harm (19.5% of
deaths by suicide), disruption of a family by
separation and divorce (14%), and problems
in a relationship with a spouse or partner
(11.8%).
• The three most frequently occurring
psychosocial risk factors for women were:
a personal history of self-harm (32.8% of
deaths by suicide), problems in a relationship
with a spouse or partner (10.9%), and
disappearance or death of a family member
(9.7).
Other statistics
• 65,000 suicide attempts each year (est.)
• It is estimated that more than 500,000
Australians have attempted suicide at some
time in their life.
Master Builders NSW would like to take this
opportunity to thank the team from MATES
NSW, Brad Parker, Heather Drew, Kayte Wilson
and Andrew Bate for their
ongoing support in the rollout of the Master
Builders NSW Gatekeepers Program.
Master Builders NSW will deliver the FREE
Suicide Prevention Gatekeepers Training
workshop every month till November 2022.
Master Builders NSW members and their
employees will be notified via an e-circular of
the upcoming dates.
For further enquiries, contact Omesh Jethwani,
Government Projects & Programs Manager, on
02 8586 3539.
If you need support in the industry, please
contact your Employee Assistance Program
(EAP) or call the MATES NSW hotline on
1300 642 111.
“It’s mates looking out for mates
and mates helping mates. It goes
further than preventing suicide
attempts — our Program develops
a caring sanctuary for those with
depression or mental health
issues,” Mr Parker says.
Many factors contribute to suicidal
thoughts, including long working
hours, job insecurity, bullying,
financial concerns, relationship
issues, and a higher rate of drug and
alcohol abuse within the industry.
“We also need to remove the stigma
surrounding mental health issues, which
causes people to try to cover up thoughts of
suicide,” Mr Parker says.
Projects like Mates In Construction, Mates in
Mining, and Mates in Energy are all working
towards reducing the suicide rate, but there is a
need for higher funding levels.
As Mr Parker says: “Take-up of the service
in NSW is currently outstripping supply
significantly, where the service is not actively
promoted… additionally, our work experience
in regional NSW has confirmed a significant
need for service rollout, with high levels of
lived experience of suicide in each session
delivered.”
Suicide in the Australian construction industry
costs the economy more than $1.5 billion a
year. However, over the past 10-15 years,
we’ve seen increased investment in mental
health at the state and federal levels.
Master Builders NSW is currently facilitating
the Suicide Prevention Gatekeepers Training
workshops (Connector and ASIST) in
partnership with MATES NSW. The NSW
Ministry of Health has funded the two-year
Program since 2020.
Master Builders NSW aims to deliver the
Suicide Prevention Gatekeepers Training
workshops amongst 3000 construction workers
in Sydney.
Master Builders NSW Suicide Prevention
Gatekeepers Training workshops target the
following cohorts:
• young apprentices;
• support staff (business trainees, new
entrants); and
• apprentice mentors (Supervisors, Project
Managers, etc.)
• others working in or connected to the
Building & Construction Industry
Executive Director of Master Builders NSW,
Brian Seidler, says the Program is a giant
leap forward for the building and construction
industry, with significantly higher rates of suicide
and mental health
issues amongst
workers than in other
sectors.
“Mental health and
suicide prevention
is everyone’s
business, and when
all of us look out for
our mates, we are
protecting the most
important commodity
in our industry — its
people.”
“In the building and construction industry,
suicide seems to be a part of the reality — the
sector is highly transient, with most workers
employed on a project by project basis, for
periods from a few weeks to a few years,” he
said.
“We need to ensure the industry represents a
sustainable and safe workplace which attracts
and keeps workers on their career pathways
and mental health training is a critical part of
that.”
Facts About Suicide Worldwide
According to World Health Organisation,
703,000 people take their own lives every
year, and many more people attempt suicide.
Every suicide is a tragedy that affects families,
communities and entire countries and has long-
lasting effects on the people left behind. Suicide
occurred throughout the lifespan and was the
fourth leading cause of death among 15-29
year-olds globally in 2019.
Suicide does not just occur in high-income
countries but is a global phenomenon globally.
Over 77% of global suicides occurred in low-
and middle-income countries in 2019.
Facts About Suicide in Australia
The New South Wales Suicide
Monitoring System collaborates with
NSW Health, the Department of
Communities and Justice (DCJ), the
State Coroner, and the NSW Police
established in October 2020. NSW
Health publishes monthly reports
on suspected deaths by suicide
occurring in New South Wales.
The latest report for January 2022
found 928 suspected deaths by
suicide in New South Wales in 2021,
which is higher than the number of
deaths reported for 2020 (904) but lower
than for 2019 (945) (NSW Health 2022).
Over 10 million Australian adults are estimated
to know someone who has died by suicide, and
1 in 2 young people are impacted by suicide by
the time they turn 25. The latest
Australian Bureau of Statistics
(ABS) data shows that around
nine (9) lives are lost per day to
suicide.
These statistics are based on
2020 data released by the
Australian Bureau of Statistics
on 29 September 2021.
• 3,139 Australians died by
suicide in 2020, representing an
age-standardised suicide death
rate of 12.1 per 100,000 people.
• This is a decrease of
around 6.6% compared with
the 12.9 age-standardised suicide death rate
reported for 2019.
• However, over the previous ten years, the
age-standardised suicide death rate per
100,000 people has increased from 10.5 in
2011 to 12.1 in 2020, an increase of 15.2%.
• Suicide was the 15th most common cause
of death overall (down from 13th in 2019),
accounting for 1.9% of deaths.
• The median age of death by suicide was
43.5 years, compared to 81.7 years for all
causes of death. Because suicide frequently
occurs at a younger age than other causes of
death, the potential years of life lost are high.
As in previous years, in 2020, suicide was
the cause of death, resulting in the highest
number of potential years of life lost: 109,525
years. This was more than half again (57.7%)
as many years higher as the next most
significant cause.
Younger Australians
• In 2020, 454 young people aged 15-24
died by suicide, representing 21.2 deaths by
suicide per 100,000 people. Over one-third
of deaths in 15-24-year-olds are due to
suicide.
TAFE NSW Trade Teachers attending the ASIST workshop. From left – Back row: Michael Rudd, Shane Judd, William Guthrie, Rudi Meuwissen,
Christopher Neal, Richard Bailey, Patrick Aiken. Front Row – from left: Josef Fritzer, Akash Chauhan.
Brian Seidler
28 MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2022 Issue Two | April-June 2022 | MBA NSW 29

3. WORKPLACE, HEALTH & SAFETY WORKPLACE, HEALTH & SAFETY
been raised in the
past few years.
However, I don’t feel
as if the problems of
suicide have been
raised equally and are
somewhat still taboo.
In your opinion, why do you think
apprentices are reluctant to discuss their
mental health issues with their teachers?
Shane: I think students see their teachers as
professionals in their field of education and,
therefore, may perceive their teacher only to
be approachable to issues pertaining to their
direct education. They may also see this as a
weakness in a male-dominated trade where you
are often told in industry and amongst peers to
have a cup of concrete and harden up. They
may also feel that this would affect their training
and results; they perceive this as not being fit
for trade and is not the done thing. This is the
sort of stigma that I felt needed to be broken,
restoring confidence because, in TAFE NSW,
we pride ourselves in supporting our students.
Michael: I think apprentices are reluctant to
discuss their mental health issues with their
teachers because they do not think anyone
cares or wants to listen. It is a possibility
some teachers have not developed a rapport
with their students, so they do not trust their
teachers enough. Some teachers probably find
it hard to find time to set aside for individual
students when they have 16 in a class and
limited time to teach them all the skills they
need to learn.
As a teacher, how have you provided
support to students who were going through
a difficult time or thinking of suicide before
the training?
Shane: During my career, I have found in most
circumstances, some students do open up
to their allocated teachers regarding personal
issues that they may be experiencing in their
personal/professional careers. Along with many
colleagues, I have had many conversations
in which the student has opened up and, as
a result, is offered support services such as
counselling (which forms part of their enrolment
with TAFE NSW). This, however, was a reactive
approach to the student opening up and did
not necessarily build a pro-active pathway for
students. I felt this was a hit and miss situation.
Michael: I have never had to assist students
thinking about suicide, but I have tried to listen
to other students who have had problems at
work or at home, which has made their learning
difficult and offered them the most opportunity I
possibly can to assist them in their learning.
What did you think of the ASIST and what
did you learn from the training?
Shane: Post attending the ASIST workshop,
I feel confident in now asking the question
‘suicide’ whilst supporting a student in the
mental health space. Asking the question
may save a life by aligning the student with
professional support mechanisms that
otherwise would not be connected. Similarly,
we complete Risk Assessments every day
of our lives in the workplace; spending the
required time to summarise a safety plan for a
student/person at risk may connect all the voids
the student is facing at that point in their life.
Michael: I learnt how to intervene with those
thinking about suicide and learnt the importance
of empathy and listening and letting the person
feel listened to. The training highlighted most
people thinking about suicide probably would
not suicide if they had someone they could talk
to about their problems and feel heard. It also
made me realise that taking the time to make
someone feel heard during the class might help
them more than you could imagine.
What was the main take home message for
you from this training workshop?
Shane: Don’t be afraid to ask the question of
suicidal thoughts. Mental Health is not a sign of
weakness, and it can affect males, regardless
of age, race or ethnicity. Suffering in silence isn’t
a safe or healthy option for anyone in our lives.
Check in with them and ask them how they’re
feeling, especially if they have experienced
a recent event that could trigger thoughts of
despair.
Michael: Suicide should not be a taboo topic,
and nearly everyone thinks about suicide at
some point, even if they know they choose not
to act upon it. It is okay to talk about it, and it is
okay to ask someone if you are worried about
them.
How prepared do you feel to talk directly
and openly to a person about their thoughts
of suicide?
Shane: Post ASIST, I feel con!dent that I could
provide effective suicide intervention to a person
at risk in ways that would meet their individual
safety needs.
Michael: I feel much more comfortable talking
about suicide after completing the training. I
also feel comfortable
talking to friends,
family and students
about the training,
and it’s interesting.
It is okay to talk
about it even though sometimes it might feel
uncomfortable.
Do you think the Suicide Prevention
Gatekeepers Training workshops should be
rolled out to all apprentices and TAFE NSW
teachers as part of a curriculum?
Shane: Many males won’t admit they have a
mental illness or a problem. They still believe
today that mental health is a significant sign of
weakness. Whilst programs such as SafeTALK
reduce the stigma and expand opportunities
for support mechanisms, males still are
experiencing shame and guilt that could lead to
them being less willing to ask for help. For this
reason, I believe this training should be funded
by the government and made available to all
enrolled apprentices state-wide within TAFE
NSW, as we as a community have a long way
to go.
Michael: I think the training would help
teachers in TAFE NSW. Some teachers in our
training session were not exactly open to the
topic and had some alternative views on the
matter, but after the two days and completing
the training, they had a change of perspective
and thought they had benefitted from the
training.
In your opinion, do you think the State and
Commonwealth Governments are doing
enough to address mental health and tackle
suicide issues?
Shane: I believe much more is needed to
address mental health and suicide, with
awareness workshops to commence during
secondary school level. Breaking down the
stigma related to mental illness and suicide
at this age would be a great start to give
confidence in the student’s voice to speak
up to their superiors and seek the available
professional services.
Michael: I do not know enough about
Commonwealth and State Government
initiatives to give an insightful comment;
however, I know that NSW Health local districts
are trying to roll out these programs through
the NSW Department of Education. I think it is
an excellent start. Targeting teachers and the
youth with this sort of training will help to lead
to generational change concerning suicide and
societal views towards suicide for the better.
Omesh: Tell us more about yourself.
Shane: I am currently employed as a team
leader for Plumbing and water trades across
Western Sydney. I have been employed in TAFE
NSW for 14 years. Prior to leadership roles, I
had the pleasure of teaching apprentices within
the first eight (8) years of my career, in which I
thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of skilling the
next generation of industry trade persons.
Michael: I am a residential builder/carpenter
and have been in the construction industry
for 13 years. I teach at Meadowbank TAFE
campus, teaching carpentry and Certificate IV
in Building and Construction for those aspiring
to become builders. I have been teaching for
two years.
What made you enrol for the Applied
Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
workshop?
Shane: Over the past few years, I noticed
an increase whilst leading and supporting
many trade teaching section Teachers, Head
Teachers and students with the terrible news
of apprentices lost to suicide. These alarming
notifications are generally shared internally on a
Monday, post-weekend.
Having coordinated the SafeTALK programs
into work health and safety trade spaces of
TAFE NSW along with Mates in Construction
and Master Builders NSW, ensuring all
enrolled students attend a workshop during
their three years as an apprentice, I felt it
would be paramount for myself along with as
many teachers within the trade space attend
this important workshop not only to break
down the stigma related to mental illness but
to upskill our trade teachers in developing
a greater understanding around the topic
of suicide prevention and how to have the
tough conversation. This coordination piece
would later be recognised by receiving the
M.D.’s state-wide Safety Award in 2021 for
my contribution to the rollout of SafeTALK
programs across Western Sydney.
Michael: The Applied Suicide Intervention Skills
Training workshop appealed to me because I
have seen how many apprentices are affected
by mental health problems and wanted to
further my understanding of the signs that
people contemplating suicide exhibit. I think the
current generation of apprentices is faced with
different issues than generations past. So it’s
essential to identify if there are any underlying
issues relating to suicide and how to approach
them to help the students in the best possible
way.
Before the first ASIST what was your
understanding of mental health and suicide
in the building and construction industry?
Shane: Having worked closely with Master
Builders NSW and Mates in Construction,
coordinating SafeTALK workshops for enrolled
students over the past couple of years, I already
had formed a good understanding of mental
health and suicide and was able to recognise
that my colleagues, teachers, and the like
would benefit from this same understanding.
As I am not a professional in this field, I sort the
professionalism of Master Builders NSW and
Mates in Construction to educate on this topic
and teach the skills to recognise the signs and
the tools to assist.
Michael: I did not realise that suicide was
so far-reaching and as common as it is. I
understand that mental health issues have
The Impact Of Applied Suicide
Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Omesh Jethwani, Government Projects & Programs Manager, in conversation with Shane Judd,
Team Leader – Plumbing & Water Industry, Infrastructure, Energy and Construction,TAFE NSW
and Michael Rudd,Teacher Carpentry and Construction Meadowbank TAFE NSW
Shane Judd Michael Rudd
30 MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2022 Issue Two | April-June 2022 | MBA NSW 31