A Longitudinal Assessment of Two Suicide Prevention Training Programs for the Construction Industry

Abstract

As part of a suite of early intervention training and support services, Mates in Construction (MATES) provide two general awareness programs to promote mental health and suicide awareness and encourage help-offering and help-seeking in construction workers. General awareness training (GAT) is a one-hour session delivered to all construction workers on large to medium worksites, while MATES awareness training (MAT) maintains similar content but is of shorter duration and delivered informally to small workplaces. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of the two programs using a before, after and follow-up design. Construction workers undertaking MAT or GAT training completed a short survey before and after their training and again at follow-up. Linear mixed-effect modelling indicated that GAT and MAT training provided similar results in improving suicide awareness and help-seeking intentions. Some variables showed a significant increase from pre-intervention to the three-month follow-up, indicating the long-term impact of some aspects of the training. The findings demonstrating the effectiveness of MAT training have important implications for MATES, as the training can be delivered to much smaller workplaces, making the program more widely available to the construction industry.

Evaluation of a Suicide Prevention Program for the Energy Sector

“…To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate a workplace suicide prevention training program tailored for use within the energy industry, despite the impact of workplace interventions on reducing the economic burden of suicide on healthcare systems [ 8 ]. Our findings are consistent with previous similar research in the construction [ 6 , 7 , 13 , 18 , 19 , 20 ] and mining industries [ 16 , 17 ], whereby suicide literacy items, and willingness to both offer and seek help, significantly increased following GAT.…”

“…Some gender differences were also seen, with females showing a greater positive change in several of the suicide awareness items and males showing greater improvement in one of the help-seeking items. These findings are important given that previous MATES evaluation studies focused on the male-dominated industries of construction and mining, both comprised of approximately 90% males [ 17 , 19 , 20 ]. In contrast, the current sample of energy workers was comprised of approximately 27% females.…”

“…These were dichotomously answered as yes or no. There were seven items measuring suicide literacy, which were based upon those used in previous similar studies in the construction industry [ 7 , 13 , 19 , 20 ]. The measures used to assess suicide literacy were comprised of items assessing suicide awareness, knowledge, and attitudes to help-seeking and -giving.…”

“…Training is tiered so that those self-identified during GAT can go on to receive more in-depth Connector training to become volunteer worksite peer supporters [ 6 ]. Evidence suggests that the MATES programs are effective in increasing suicide literacy and help-seeking awareness in the construction and mining industries, and are viewed as acceptable by the intended workers and workplaces [ 6 , 8 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. The program has been applied to the mining sector (Mates in Mining) [ 16 , 17 ], and in 2017 the MATES in Energy program was established to extend the MATES program to promote better mental health and reduce suicide within the energy sector.…”

The MATES Case Management Model: Presenting Problems and Referral Pathways for a Novel Peer-Led Approach to Addressing Suicide in the Construction Industry

“…Since its inception, MATES has had substantial uptake in the building and construction sector and has developed an evidence-base supporting its effectiveness. Previous evaluation research has demonstrated the social validity of the program among construction workers [11], effectiveness in shifting beliefs around suicide [12,13], improvements in suicide prevention literacy, and increased intentions among workers to offer help to workmates and to seek help for themselves [13][14][15]. Research has also demonstrated the significant economic return of investing in workplace suicide prevention initiatives such as MATES [16][17][18].…”