Around 45% of Australians aged between 16 and 85 will experience a mental illness at some point in their life, while one in five Australian adults will experience a mental illness in any given year
Construction industry
Construction industry
- Data from the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention indicates that construction workers are more than twice as likely to end their own life as compared with the general population.
- Suicide rates among apprentices in the sector, meanwhile, are more than two and a half times the general averages for men of similar age.
- Construction was also the number one sector in terms of substance abuse, according to a 2007 ABS survey. New research has found workers who participate in fly-in-fly-out type arrangements experience depression at more than twice the rate of other Australians.
Influences
Inside the workplace - with tight deadlines and pressure to meet agreed time frames, considerable levels of uncertainty and occupational redundancy associated with the project-oriented nature of the work, long working hours, the need to often work away from home and an industry culture which stigmatises mental health challenges, a number of factors within the sector itself add to stress experienced by its workforce.
Outside the workplace - and include family issues or relationship breakdowns, financial stress or drug or alcohol addiction.
Typical Responses to Distress/ Life Threatening Events
Behavioural
Physical
Take a moment to look out for your colleagues and watch for signs as you may be the person to provide that support and allow them to talk through what is going on for them
Take a moment to think about what is happening for you, take a slow deep breath or do a quick stretch to relieve tension.
Inside the workplace - with tight deadlines and pressure to meet agreed time frames, considerable levels of uncertainty and occupational redundancy associated with the project-oriented nature of the work, long working hours, the need to often work away from home and an industry culture which stigmatises mental health challenges, a number of factors within the sector itself add to stress experienced by its workforce.
Outside the workplace - and include family issues or relationship breakdowns, financial stress or drug or alcohol addiction.
Typical Responses to Distress/ Life Threatening Events
Behavioural
- Sleep problems
- Hyper-vigilance
- Tearfulness
- Increased family conflicts
- Decision–making difficulty
- Social withdrawal
- Despair
Physical
- Tightness in chess
- Agitation
- Fatigue
- Gastrointestinal distress
- Sadness, Grief & Depression
- Appetite change
- Self-doubts
- Confusion
- Intrusive thoughts
- Memory difficulties
- Concentration problems
- Shock
- Anxiety
- Irritability, Anger & Rage
Take a moment to look out for your colleagues and watch for signs as you may be the person to provide that support and allow them to talk through what is going on for them
Take a moment to think about what is happening for you, take a slow deep breath or do a quick stretch to relieve tension.
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