The construction industry loses more workers to suicide every year than any other industry in New Zealand. On average, one construction worker takes their own life every week.
Our industry is vibrant, exciting, and integral to the New Zealand economy, but it can also be a challenging industry to work in with long hours, transient working conditions, and masculine stoic beliefs that can impact on our people’s mental health and wellbeing.
READ Mates in Construction ‘Industry Wellbeing Report Sept 2022’
The current context is exacerbating these pressures. CoreLogic recently reported that construction costs have risen at their fastest pace since 2012 and businesses across the industry are reporting that they are experiencing severe labour shortages according to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).
Our people are also feeling the pressure at home with annual inflation hitting a 32-year high of 7.3% in July 2023, the biggest financial squeeze for households seen in over three decades.
MATES in Construction are seeing the impacts of this in our mahi on the ground and have sought to gather information about the mental health and wellbeing of our industry in order to effectively tailor services to the needs of the community.
READ Mates in Construction ‘Industry Wellbeing Report Sept 2022’
Get Help – are you concerned about yourself or a mate?
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