Hospital build site to fly flag for mental health
DUNEDIN’S new hospital construction site will be among many construction sites around Otago and Southland flying flags to raise awareness of suicide prevention this week.
Mates in Construction chief executive officer Victoria McArthur said on average, one construction worker took 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, job insecurities and masculine stoic beliefs, this can all impact on our people’s mental health and wellbeing.’’
The pressures felt by those in the industry had been further amplified by Covid19, she said.
Nearly three years after the pandemic’s onset, more than half of those surveyed across the construction workforce reported their mental health had become worse.
‘‘Coming together to fly the flag as part of this global movement shows our industry knows we all need to work collectively, to not only start the conversations about mental health and suicide prevention, but also to know what to do if a mate is struggling.’’
More than 1000 flags will be flying on sites across New Zealand as the construction industry comes together for its third year of Fly the Flag.
The industry workforce are standing side by side as they remember those lost to suicide and take the time to check in with each other, especially when they can see a mate is doing it tough.
This year, the organisation is also encouraging those in the industry to take part in ‘‘Take 10 at 10’’ — an initiative where sites and construction organisations across the country put down their tools, whether it be a hammer, a drill or a pen, at 10am on Friday and take 10 minutes to have a conversation about their mental health and wellbeing.
Mates Fly the Flag culminates in World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10 — a day of global commitment to focus attention on suicide prevention.