There’s a shout for ‘Tools down’ as the construction Industry faces a problem of a different kind for Tradies in Australia.

Young tradesmen are taking their lives at more than double the rate of other men and the number is rising, causing great concern for the Industry.

According to experts, a high work-pressure environment, work at remote locations, and a "tough guy" mentality are the main factors putting construction workers at risk for suicide. 

In addition, for some men, construction is a high stress environment with complications occurring every day, added together the pressure from management to get the job done, it seems construction workers jeopardise their health and work longer hours to meet deadlines, budget and expectations.

Jack Dunkley of Dubbo has been in the building game his whole life – firstly working with his father Rod and now with his own business. According to Jack mental health is an ongoing concern.

“As someone who has lost a great mate to suicide, the importance of speaking to your mates about all problems big and small has never been more apparent, particularly in our industry. It’s amazing how small the problem may seem once you have spoken to someone,” said Jack.

“Sometimes it just needs one person to ask ‘how you going mate’ to make a difference.”

Two mates, Daniel Allen (inner city Sydney) and Edward Ross (Longreach, Qld) founded TradeMutt after Daniel lost a close friend to suicide in 2015.

The pair created TradeMutt, a social impact workwear brand designed to be conversation starters in combatting mental health, by using eye-catching colourful shirt designs.

Brendon White, Condobolin has embraced the TradeMutt concept.

Their ‘Funky Shirt Friday’ concept was devised to give tradies a reason to wear their TradeMutt shirt’s to work, similar to what office workers do on casual work Fridays.

TradeMutt designs are bold and striking, they’re colourful and hard not to talk about.

The bare facts:

• The suicide rate amongst tradies is double that of other men

• Tradie suicide is increasing at an alarming rate

• Most Aussies deal with tradies on a regular basis – including electricians, mechanics, plumbers, gardeners, etc.

• We can all do something to help address the issue

“Tradies struggle with mental health because there is a lot of pressure placed on them to work hard for long hours and perform physically demanding jobs often in harsh weather conditions. Over time, with a continual poor work/life balance, men start to feel burnt out and disconnected from their friends, their families and even themselves,” TradeMutt co-founder Edward Ross said.

“On top of this, they are also feeling the pressure of the follow-on effects of COVID-19 and all the issues that are impacting the building and construction industry such as supply chain issues, rising inflation and interest rates, and a labour shortage which is sending wages through the roof. Things are really tough for tradies at the moment.”

James Stanton is based in Nyngan but employs four young tradies who work with him in his building business.

“It’s important when you have young blokes working with you that you keep an eye out on them,” he told Western Plains App.

“As well as teaching them about the building game you need to help guide them and make sure they are ok."

“Men don’t talk about mental health but a joke and a beer and a yarn after work all helps and gives them a place to open up if need be.”

Nyngan tradie James Stanton

Steve Edwards of Dubbo has been in the Construction Industry for many years and said he has always stuck by one rule."Tools down when a mate is in need. Everyone matters."

And it's not just tradies who have jumped on the concept. Businesses all over Australia have joined in and the results speak for themselves.

Brendon White, a Stock and Station Agent with KMWL of Forbes and Condobolin has been in on the game since TradeMutts first started.

"I started wearing the shirts during the drought when I was going to see clients," said Brendon.

"Obviously the shirts are pretty lairy which quickly sparked the odd remark or question.

"This often lead into more, and deeper conversations, which may have helped a few blokes along the way.

"It's great to see my mates and clients around the area now wearing the shirts too," he said.

A stand-out in the sheepyards: Brendon White talks with client Phil Harding 

The designs are already being worn by iconic companies such as BHP, Rio Tinto, the Brisbane City Council and Queensland Rail, all helping to spread the message.

Fifty percent of TradeMutt’s profits are donated directly to TIACS, which stands for This Is A Conversation Starter.

TIACS is a free and confidential chat, text and callback service providing early-intervention mental health support for truckies, tradies, rural and blue-collar workers and those who care about them.

“Blokes have a bit of a reputation for not talking about their problems but we are changing that,” Ross said.

“We are losing so many men due to them not speaking up and getting the support they deserve. The more people that know about TradeMutt and TIACS the better.

"We help on two levels, we get tradies talking to each other by wearing our funky shirts which starts a conversation, and then we include the details for TIACS on every shirt through a QR code so tradies can call for a confidential chat if they need someone to talk to, free and ongoing.

“We are saving tradies’ lives, one shirt at a time, and it is working. The feedback has been phenomenal and TIACS is continually reporting higher call rates which is really encouraging.”

Call or text 0488 846 988 if you need a yarn.

Tools down if needed: Rory Quarmby, Sonny Knight, Hewett Haycock, Travis Giles all work for Stanton Building Co. based out of Nyngan.