The MATES charity was brought to New Zealand in 2019 to address the high level of suicide among construction industry workers. MATES delivers across the suicide prevention spectrum – promotion, prevention, intervention, and postvention – through community development programmes delivered on sites, supporting workers in need through Case Management and a 24/7 support line, and providing postvention care. MATES staff are trained in suicide intervention skills and have experience with the Building and Construction Industry, allowing them to engage easily with the workers on site.
The programme raises awareness and builds resilience in the construction industry by increasing suicide prevention literacy, promoting help-seeking and help-offering behaviours, and building the capacity for workers to support one another. The impact of this community-based approach stretches beyond the workplace and into workers’ everyday lives.
The MATES programme foundations are built on research performed by a broad, diverse, and rich bank of academics. Continual research and evaluation is undertaken to inform ongoing improvements to and growth of the programme.