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Shifting Beliefs about Suicide: Pre-Post Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Program for Workers in the Construction Industry

Author

Listed:
  • Tania L. King

    (Centre for Health Equity, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia)

  • Jorgen Gullestrup

    (MATES in Construction, Spring Hill 4000, Australia)

  • Philip J. Batterham

    (Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra 0200, Australia)

  • Brian Kelly

    (School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle 2308, Australia)

  • Chris Lockwood

    (MATES in Construction, Spring Hill 4000, Australia)

  • Helen Lingard

    (Construction Work Health and Safety Research @ RMIT, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University, Melbourne 3000, Australia)

  • Samuel B. Harvey

    (Black Dog Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia)

  • Anthony D. LaMontagne

    (Work, Health and Wellbeing Unit, Population Health Research Centre, School of Health & Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong 3217, Australia)

  • Allison Milner

    (Centre for Health Equity, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia)

Abstract

Suicide is a significant health problem that is known to disproportionately affect those employed in manual occupations, including construction workers and tradespeople. Universal General Awareness Training (GAT) was part of a multi-component suicide prevention program in the Australian construction industry. The program’s aims were to increase awareness of mental health and suicide, reduce stigma, and encourage help-seeking and help-offering behaviours. This paper sought to examine the effectiveness of the GAT program in shifting suicide beliefs. Pre- and post-training survey data of 20,125 respondents was obtained from a database of GAT evaluation results between 2016 and 2018. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were fitted to examine belief changes, and predictive margins and their SEs were computed. Mean differences in belief change were obtained for the overall sample, and by occupation. Modest but significant favourable shifts in three of the four beliefs assessed were observed following GAT. Managers and professionals showed greater propensity to shift beliefs, and Labourers and Machinery Operators and Drivers showed least. Results suggest that GAT can successfully shift some beliefs regarding suicide and mental health at least in the short term, but highlight the need to tailor communication to vulnerable occupational groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Tania L. King & Jorgen Gullestrup & Philip J. Batterham & Brian Kelly & Chris Lockwood & Helen Lingard & Samuel B. Harvey & Anthony D. LaMontagne & Allison Milner, 2018. "Shifting Beliefs about Suicide: Pre-Post Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Program for Workers in the Construction Industry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-13, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:10:p:2106-:d:171891
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jorgen Gullestrup & Belinda Lequertier & Graham Martin, 2011. "MATES in Construction: Impact of a Multimodal, Community-Based Program for Suicide Prevention in the Construction Industry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-17, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Victoria Ross & Neil Caton & Sharna Mathieu & Jorgen Gullestrup & Kairi Kõlves, 2020. "Evaluation of a Suicide Prevention Program for the Energy Sector," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-11, September.
    2. Victoria Ross & Neil Caton & Jorgen Gullestrup & Kairi Kõlves, 2020. "A Longitudinal Assessment of Two Suicide Prevention Training Programs for the Construction Industry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-8, January.
    3. Victoria Ross & Neil Caton & Jorgen Gullestrup & Kairi Kõlves, 2019. "Understanding the Barriers and Pathways to Male Help-Seeking and Help-Offering: A Mixed Methods Study of the Impact of the Mates in Construction Program," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-12, August.
    4. Christopher M. Doran & Lisa Wittenhagen & Edward Heffernan & Carla Meurk, 2021. "The MATES Case Management Model: Presenting Problems and Referral Pathways for a Novel Peer-Led Approach to Addressing Suicide in the Construction Industry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-11, June.
    5. Mohammad Tanvi Newaz & Helen Giggins & Udara Ranasinghe, 2022. "A Critical Analysis of Risk Factors and Strategies to Improve Mental Health Issues of Construction Workers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-14, October.
    6. Tania L. King & Philip J. Batterham & Helen Lingard & Jorgen Gullestrup & Chris Lockwood & Samuel B. Harvey & Brian Kelly & Anthony D. LaMontagne & Allison Milner, 2019. "Are Young Men Getting the Message? Age Differences in Suicide Prevention Literacy among Male Construction Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-12, February.

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