MATES in Construction: Impact of a Multimodal, Community-Based Program for Suicide Prevention in the Construction Industry

Jorgen Gullestrup, Belinda Lequertier and Graham Martin
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Jorgen Gullestrup: MATES in Construction, Level 1, 35 Astor Terrace, Spring Hill, Queensland 4004, Australia
Belinda Lequertier: Centre for Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, The University of Queensland, K Floor, Mental Health Centre, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia
Graham Martin: Centre for Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, The University of Queensland, K Floor, Mental Health Centre, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia

IJERPH, 2011, vol. 8, issue 11, 1-17

Abstract: A large-scale workplace-based suicide prevention and early intervention program was delivered to over 9,000 construction workers on building sites across Queensland. Intervention components included universal General Awareness Training (GAT; general mental health with a focus on suicide prevention); gatekeeper training provided to construction worker volunteer ‘Connectors’; Suicide First Aid (ASIST) training offered to key workers; outreach support provided by trained and supervised MIC staff; state-wide suicide prevention hotline; case management service; and postvention support provided in the event of a suicide. Findings from over 7,000 workers (April 2008 to November 2010) are reported, indicating strong construction industry support, with 67% building sites and employers approached agreeing to participate in MIC. GAT participants demonstrated significantly increased suicide prevention awareness compared with a comparison group. Connector training participants rated MIC as helpful and effective, felt prepared to intervene with a suicidal person, and knew where to seek help for a suicidal individual following the training. Workers engaged positively with the after-hours crisis support phone line and case management. MIC provided postvention support to 10 non-MIC sites and sites engaged with MIC, but not yet MIC-compliant. Current findings support the potential effectiveness and social validity of MIC for preventing suicide in construction workers.

Keywords: suicide; prevention; men; male health; gender; construction industry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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