Conpower

Some initiatives become more than just another program—they become personal.

For CPP’s Brandon Stewart, MATES is one of them. As an HSE Manager who’s spent years working across sites in New South Wales and Queensland, Brandon has become one of the program’s most dedicated advocates on the ground—not because he was asked to, but because of what he’s lived through.

MATES stands for “Mates in Construction – Mates Actively Talking to Each Other on Site,” a program dedicated to improving mental health and preventing suicide in the construction industry. It equips workers with the confidence to recognise when someone may be struggling, start meaningful conversations and connect people with the support they need.

Brandon has attended a General Awareness Training (GAT) session and two Connector sessions, and makes sure the program is delivered on every project he works on across New South Wales and Queensland. “It doesn’t matter how many people have completed the training before—every new site gets another session because every conversation has the potential to reach someone who needs it,” he says.

His passion for mental health awareness comes from personal experience.

In 2017, I lost my best friend, Rob, to suicide.

“At the time, I was working FIFO. As I was boarding a flight for my next swing, I received a call from Rob’s mum asking if I’d heard from him. I told her I’d try contacting him once I landed. It wasn’t unusual for Rob to miss a phone call, so I didn’t think too much of it,” Brandon recalls.

“The flight took off. When I landed and walked through the terminal, another friend was waiting for me. She was a paramedic and had attended the call for Rob. She’d finished her shift early because she knew I was arriving and wanted to be the one to tell me what had happened—and to make sure I wasn’t alone when I heard the news. That’s how I found out I’d lost my best friend.”

Nearly ten years later, it still affects him. “There are moments when memories come flooding back—sometimes something as simple as the drive home from site is enough to bring him to mind. I still can’t bring myself to delete his name from my phone.”

Losing someone to suicide changes you, Brandon says. It also changes the way you look at conversations around mental health.

The construction and trades industries have made significant progress, Brandon says, but too many people still feel they need to be the “tough guy.” “Too many carry their struggles in silence because they think speaking up is a sign of weakness. It isn’t. It’s okay to not be okay, and it’s okay to talk about it.”

It’s okay to not be okay, and it’s okay to talk about it.

“No one should have to lose someone they love to suicide, especially when support is available. The people around you care more than you know, and there is always someone willing to listen.”

Brandon has seen first-hand the devastation suicide leaves behind—for friends, families, workmates and entire communities.

“If sharing my story encourages just one person to reach out, or one mate to start a conversation that might not have happened otherwise, then it’s worth it.”

Start the conversation today

You don’t have to have all the answers, you just have to ask the question.

“If someone doesn’t seem like themselves, check in. Ask how they’re really going. Listen without judgement,” Brandon says. “A simple conversation could make all the difference.”

If you’re doing it tough, know that you don’t have to face it alone. Reach out to a mate, a family member, your leader or one of the support services available. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

“Together, we can create safer, stronger workplaces,” Brandon says, “where everyone knows they’re supported, everyone feels comfortable speaking up and no one has to struggle alone.”

Visit construction.mates.org.au

Mates 24/7 helpline 1300 642 111