A new study is ringing alarm bells over tradie mental health after construction workers report suicidal thoughts and behaviours sweeping job sites across the country.
The survey of over 1,700 workers in WA’s construction sector, led by Dr Joseph Carpini and Professor Gillian Yeo from the University of Western Australia (UWA), found that tradies were around three times more likely to experience these suicidal tendencies than the average Aussie.
Depression and anxiety symptoms also occurred at twice the national average among these workers.
Dr Kyron from UWA’s School of Psychological Science said the frightening figures exposed the “urgent need” for dramatic workplace interventions and state-based policy changes to protect tradies doing it tough.
“The study…found they experience significantly higher rates of suicidal thoughts compared to the general Australian population,” Dr Kyron said.
“Loneliness, workplace bullying, work-life conflict, and substance abuse were notably associated with suicidal ideation, with loneliness emerging as the strongest predictor.”
According to Kyron, the worrying statistics only highlight the emotional isolation felt by many workers, despite the collaborative nature of construction work.
“Importantly, we found that strong interpersonal relationships, whether with significant others or supportive colleagues, act as a protective factor,” he said.
“Workers with positive support systems are less likely to report suicidal thoughts, even under high stress and psychological distress.”
Tradies struggling in silence
Unfortunately, the study’s troubling findings shouldn’t come as a shock to many career tradies on the job site.
According to the latest figures from SafeWork, 190 workers in the construction industry take their own lives every year, with young tradies twice as likely to die from suicide than the average young Aussie.
In fact, despite falls and injuries ranking high in the sector, tradies are actually six times more likely to die by suicide than from a workplace accident, with one worker lost to suicide every two days.
More needs to be done
With widespread tradie shortages only threatening to upset the tradie work-life balance even further in the coming months, Dr Carpini said it was up to the industry to implement a “multifaceted approach” to address the alarming trends.
“This included establishing industry-wide mental health policies, integrating mental health into workplace safety protocols, and developing anti-discrimination policies for mental health issues,” he said.
“Organisations should promote positive interpersonal relationships, implement effective anti-bullying and harassment initiatives, and offer flexible working arrangements to support work-life balance.
“We also found it is essential to provide on-site evidence-based mental health support, offer mental health intervention training for all organisational members, and educate workers on healthy coping mechanisms, how to build psychological resilience, and how to ask for help.
Dr Carpini urged businesses to develop a “mental health monitoring tool” for construction workers and encouraged tradies to foster social connections inside and outside of work to catch the early signs of distress amongst their peers.
But CEO of tradie mental health advocacy group Mates in Construction WA, Liam Cubbage, said top-down interventions were the major key to addressing underlying issues and providing meaningful support.
“By addressing these challenges, the construction industry can take meaningful steps towards reducing suicide rates and promoting a safer, healthier work environment,” Mr Cubbage said.
If any construction worker, family member or tradie mate is in need of support, contact the free MATES Helpline at 1300 642 111.
