Answer extracted from the Powerline Podcast — listen to the full episode below.
What is the Mates North America program and how does it address suicide prevention in construction?
Mates North America is a pilot suicide prevention program launched in February that trains construction site volunteers called "connectors" to recognize and support colleagues in mental distress. Built on an Australian model refined over 20 years, the program goes beyond education by establishing trust through toolbox talks and ongoing engagement, recognizing that knowledge alone cannot save lives without genuine human connection on the job site.
A Framework Built on Two Decades of Proven Method
The Mates model originated in Australia more than 20 years ago, where it was refined and validated in the construction industry. Rather than reinvent the wheel, Mates North America adapted this proven framework for deployment across construction sites in North America, launching its pilot program in February across six operating companies (OPCOs).
The program's core strategy is creating a network of safety on every job site by identifying and training volunteer "connectors"—frontline workers who learn how to recognize distress, ask directly about suicide, and provide emotional support to their peers. This approach treats mental health with the same rigor that construction sites apply to physical safety.
Training That Goes Beyond Information
Mates North America offers two levels of intervention. The baseline trains connectors in fundamental skills—how to ask about suicide and offer care without judgment. For those ready to deepen their impact, the program provides Advanced Suicide Intervention Skills Training, creating what amounts to a mental health equivalent of having CPR-certified staff on every site.
Yet training alone does not work. As discussed in the episode, the program deliberately builds trust and relationships through regular toolbox talks, social events, and consistent site engagement. Trust is the foundation; without it, even well-trained connectors cannot access the workers who need help most.
"Research right now on suicide prevention shows that having access to people that care about you reduces the risk of suicide."
Wykisha Thomas-McKinney — Field Officer, Mates North America Pilot. A leader in implementing suicide prevention frameworks adapted from the Australian Mates model, Thomas-McKinney works directly with construction sites across North America to build networks of safety through training, relationship-building, and ongoing engagement with workers and site leadership.
This insight—that caring relationships themselves are protective factors—explains why Mates North America prioritizes presence and connection alongside education. In an industry where workers spend 10 to 12+ hours a day together, often for weeks or months in remote locations, the connectors trained by the program become lifelines.
The urgency behind the program is stark. Construction workers face a mental health crisis far exceeding physical job site injuries—in 2023, construction workers died of overdose at over 10 times the rate of job site fatalities, and male construction workers die by suicide at a rate 75% higher than the general male population. Only 5% of trades workers have sought professional mental health support, compared to 22% of the general population, revealing both stigma and access barriers unique to the industry.
The episode explores how the program's early rollout is already shifting conversations on job sites, normalizing discussions about mental health in an environment historically defined by toughness and silence.
See also
How does prolonged time away from family on job sites contribute to mental health deterioration in construction workers?
Workers spend 12 to 14 hours a day on jobs, often for extended periods in remote locations like man camps or hotels, creating profound isolation. This physical and emotional separation from family compounds the risk factors already present in construction work.
What statistics demonstrate the disproportionate mental health crisis among construction workers compared to the general population?
In 2023, construction workers died of overdose at over 10 times the rate they died from job site injury. Male construction workers die by suicide at a rate of 75% higher than men in the general population, with only 5% of trades workers having consulted mental health professionals versus 22% of the general population.