Leaders of the Construction Industry come together to support ACT Construction Apprentice Mental Health
The CFMEU, Creative Safety Initiative (CSI) and Construction Charitable Works (CCW) today launch their mental health training and support program for ACT construction apprentices.
CSI will be delivering Mental Health Awareness training sessions to Construction Industry apprentices during Mental Health Month and up till the Christmas close down. This training will be provided at no cost to the apprentices or their employer.
CSI is a leading training provider with a long history of providing wellbeing education to Apprentices.
The training sessions will provide valuable information to apprentices on their mental health and ways to help themselves and those around them.
This training was developed in recognition that construction Industry workers are:
- two times more likely to die by suicide than the community;
- 21% of construction workers have had a mental health condition; and
- apprentices are two and half times more likely to die by suicide than other young men their age.
These figures were collected prior to COVID. It is reasonable to expect that these figures would be greater now due to COVID.
“Workers are struggling, young apprentices are struggling” stated Anthony Vitler, CEO, Creative Safety Initiative.
“Apprentices are the future of the industry and CSI want them to feel supported and knowledgeable about their mental health. The goal of this training is to encourage apprentices to seek help when they are struggling and to do it early” stated Anthony Vitler, CEO, CSI.
CCW will be in attendance at all training session to provide welfare support to attendees. CCW provides specialized support and case management to construction industry workers and their family members. The holistic services endeavor to support apprentices to navigate life through counselling, case management, support, advocacy and referral to relevant services.
“Apprentices are a high risk group within a high risk industry. Apprentices are often for the first time managing adult life stresses such as relationship breakdowns, financial stress and problems at work. In addition, COVID has isolated many apprentices from their usual supports” stated Shayne Hall from CCW.
As a result of COVID the industry has experienced its first industry wide close down, online learning for apprentices, strict COVID management practices on-site and isolation from many support systems.
“Apprentices are often the bottom rung in industry. Exploited for their labour as they are inexperienced in the workplace. This can significantly impact on their wellbeing. The CFMEU want apprentices to have a long career in the industry. To do that they need to look after their mental and physical health” stated Zach Smith, Acting Secretary, CFMEU ACT Branch
For further information, contact CSI on 02 6230 1320