On Monday, one of our Managing Directors, Matt Donnelly, was proud to attend the MATES in Construction NZ Research Showcase event, held in conjunction with Suicide Prevention Week and marking the beginning of MATES Fly the Flag. This initiative sees construction workers across New Zealand flying their flag to show support for suicide prevention in the industry.
With an average of one construction worker lost to suicide every five days in 2023, the event focused on educating the industry on the 2023 Construction Industry Well-being Survey, highlighting the challenges faced by vulnerable groups within the workforce.
At Assemble, we have been proud partners of MATES from the start, offering our recruitment expertise pro bono to grow the mates team as our way to support their incredibly important work.
Our team gathered on World Suicide Prevention Day to reflect on the incredible work Mates is doing, and here are some of the key insights Matt shared from the event:
2,100 workers in New Zealand’s construction industry were surveyed
17% of workers reported having a disability, illness, or physical impairment, with particularly high rates among Māori apprentices, younger workers, and those identifying as non-binary. Of those, 14% attributed their condition to construction-related work
20% of workers reported having thoughts of suicide
In 2023, 80 construction workers lost their lives to suspected suicide, and a further 1,628 workers required time off due to self-harm incidents
These sobering statistics show how much more work needs to be done to prevent avoidable harm in New Zealand's construction industry. The survey also identified five workplace-based psychological stressors, with proposed solutions to help mitigate these challenges:
Financial instability and the boom-bust cycle of the industry
Poor communication skills leading to poor relationships
The culture of traditional masculinity
Low pay
Lack of mental health understanding and support in the workplace
The economic cost of suicide and non-fatal suicide behaviours in New Zealand’s construction industry has been estimated at $1.135 billion in annual avoidable social and economic impact. The MATES program has shown a positive economic return, avoiding $14.2 million in costs each year, with a conservative ROI of 1:4.42—meaning for every dollar invested, there is a $4.42 benefit.
At Assemble, we believe in supporting the well-being of our industry and the people who make it thrive. If you ever need help or guidance, our door is always open. Let’s work together to create a healthier, safer environment for everyone in the construction industry.