Fosroc ANZ wants to support its mates and help prevent suicide in the construction industry. For every sausage of Nitoseal Sealants sold in New Zealand in April, Fosroc ANZ will donate 25c to MATES in Construction New Zealand. All funds raised will support MATES' suicide prevention training programmes, which are offered free to construction workplaces.
"In New Zealand, we lose a construction worker to suicide nearly every week," says MATES in Construction Senior Field Officer Slade McFarland. Men account for 98% of lives lost. Both young and older men are at risk, ranging from unskilled workers and apprentices to site managers and small business owners.
Covid-19 has put huge pressure on workers' employment security. In a 2021 industry wellbeing survey, 43% of workers told MATES that their mental health was worse since the COVID-19 pandemic.
With a big focus on supporting a cultural diverse industry, MATES is working hard to get the mental health and suicide korero (conversation) started. In the two and a half years MATES has been operating in New Zealand, 23,000 workers have participated in face-to-face training – a huge achievement considering the pandemic. But with more than 270,000 people working in New Zealand construction, there is more to do.
“The industry response has been unbelievably positive," Slade says. "Men who have worked in the industry for decades come up and shake my hand at the end of the training. They say 'I am so glad this support is finally here'."
Getting the korero started
A culturally diverse, national team of field officers deliver general awareness training all over New Zealand. Workplaces can contact MATES to organise a free, 45-minute, on site session.
Slade serves Auckland and the North Island. “Many of our team members have construction industry experience. This helps us start the conversation about suicide and mental health," he says. "We build awareness about how to identify mood and behaviour changes in yourself and the people you work with."
The training offers practical tips for how to 'check in' with a mate at work. Promoting support options is also important. Workers are encouraged to proactively connect their mates with support, including the MATES 24/7 Helpline 0800 111 315.
“We are not asking construction workers to be psychologists or doctors. We’re asking them to be mates. It’s about saying ‘I care enough to check in with you and I don’t want anything to happen to you’,” Slade explains.
Individual staff can also volunteer for more in-depth Connector training, with further education about how to connect colleagues with support.
Language and cultural support
A grass roots, ground floor approach is the best way to get men talking, Slade says. MATES goes out of its way to create inclusive programmes. As well as Maori and Pacific Island languages, MATES offers training and case management support in Mandarin and Filipino.
"We always start and finish our training with a karakia, which is a Maori prayer," Slade says. "In March, we ran our first full training session in Mandarin, which was a big milestone. But even when training is delivered in English, we talk about what approaches might suit different cultures."
Finding help
The MATES helpline NZ 0800 111 315 is available for people who want to seek help for themselves, or if you need advice about how to help a colleague. Read MATES' 8 tips for how to start a supportive conversation with someone you're worried about.
As well as training and case management, MATES also provides counselling support at workplaces impacted by the suicide of a workmate.
In an emergency please dial 111 if you think you or someone else is at risk of harm.
During April 2022, for every sausage of Nitoseal sealants sold in New Zealand, Fosroc ANZ will donate 25c to MATES in Construction.
Use our product selector to find the right sealant for your project, or find a stockist here.
