Around 20 Millicent tradies heard a vital suicide prevention message last week ahead of getting on the tools.
Plumbers, builders and electricians from local firms had gathered for a 7am cooked breakfast at the workshop of Lonergan and Muhovics Pumps and Electrical.
They then heard a 30-minute presentation about mental health from Mates in Construction.
A similar presentation was given over a barbecue lunch to 20 farm workers at Mayura Station near Millicent.
Mates in Construction is an independent charity established in 2008 to reduce the high level of suicide among Australian construction workers.
Lonergan and Muhovics Pumps and Electrical owners Scott Lonergan and Jamie Muhovics arranged the breakfast and presentation and invited other trades personnel to be present as well as their own 10 employees.
Mr Muhovics said it was invaluable to have presentations by groups like Mates in Construction.
“Suicide prevention is a very important issue and we need to raise awareness,” Mr Muhovics said.
“We have 10 young male workers and they are at a susceptible age.
“We need to keep an eye out for each other.”
As well as giving the suicide prevention sessions, Mates in Construction case manager Patrick Kukla also presented accreditation signage to the two Millicent firms.
“Mayura Station and Lonergan and Muhovics have put a lot of work into and have committed pretty consistently to our programmes and training to have achieved accreditation status,” Mr Kukla said.
“The funding from Country SA PHN allows us to provide this training beyond the boundaries of heavy industry / construction and to the wider community – including other industry and community sectors.
“You can imagine how grateful we are for this Country SA PHN funding and the extra capacity to work beyond our usual scope.”
Mates in Construction provides suicide prevention through community development programs on sites, and by supporting workers in need through case management and a 24/7 help line.
It is based on the simple idea that suicide is everyone’s business.
If the building and construction industry in Australia is to improve the mental health and well-being of workers and reduce suicide, then it cannot be left to mental health professionals: everyone in the industry must play their part.
