Deakin University
Browse

The role of social identity in a suicide prevention programme for construction workers in Australia

Download (679.63 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2024-10-30, 00:38 authored by Jorgen Gullestrup, Samantha ThomasSamantha Thomas, Tania King, Tony LaMontagneTony LaMontagne
Abstract Each year, more than 700 000 people die by suicide globally, the majority of whom are men. The United Nations and World Health Organization have set targets to reduce suicide rates by one-third by 2030. While large-scale suicide prevention programmes are required to meet these targets, diffusion of these types of initiatives is difficult—particularly with male populations. This qualitative study investigated the MATES in Construction suicide prevention programme in Australia. Guided by Social Identity Theory and the Social Identity Model for Collective Action, the study aimed to understand why construction workers chose to volunteer and advocate for industry-based suicide prevention programmes, and how their worker identity, solidarity and relationships impacted their volunteering and advocacy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 participants who had chosen to engage with MATES as volunteers. Data were interpreted using a reflexive approach to thematic analysis, and four themes were constructed from the data relating to feelings of belonging, connection and solidarity between workers and their industry; how specific context and roles impacted identity while existing within an overall sense of identity and solidarity; how industry mateship supported engagement in suicide prevention; and how the role of lived experience, mateship and responsibility provided hope for change. Providing intervention skills to workers, particularly workers with a lived experience of mental ill-health, empowered them to believe that they could make a difference by acting collectively. The MATES engagement model described in this study may have applications for other health promotion prevention programmes targeting male cultures.

History

Journal

Health Promotion International

Volume

39

Article number

daae140

Pagination

1-11

Location

Oxford, Eng.

Open access

  • Yes

ISSN

0957-4824

eISSN

1460-2245

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Issue

5

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Usage metrics

    Research Publications

    Licence

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC