{
  "id": 6650153,
  "title": "MATES charity aims to prevent suicide in heavy industries",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/mates-charity-aims-to-prevent-suicide-in-heavy-industries",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-10T21:53:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-11/mates-tackles-suicide-prevention-in-heavy-industries/107138332"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "MATES, a charity dedicated to preventing suicide in heavy industries, aims to facilitate conversations about mental health in high-risk workplaces such as construction, mining, energy, and manufacturing. Maggie Pearce, a Sydney mother whose son Ben took his own life in 2018, started the initiative after noticing the importance of open discussions in her transport workplace. She now volunteers as a connector with MATES, which has grown to around 37,000 volunteers across the country, reaching approximately 330,000 colleagues to have potentially life-saving conversations.\n\nIn 2023 and 2024, 1,383 men died by suicide in heavy industry, representing 27.6 percent of suicides among males. The long hours and living away from loved ones may be contributing to mental stress in this line of work. Additionally, some occupations like mining and construction on large sites have a well-paid culture that can sometimes lead to gambling. MATES has identified job insecurity as another critical factor in the industry.\n\nThe charity was initially founded in Queensland in 2007 to address higher suicide rates among construction workers compared to other professions. MATES has expanded its reach to various heavy industries, recognizing that workers spend more time with their colleagues at work than with their family or friends. To combat this, MATES emphasizes the need for on-ground support networks in workplaces where people can have open conversations about mental health.\n\nSince its inception, MATES has received funding from both government sources and private donations. While the NSW organization is primarily funded by the government, its national arm relies on a smaller percentage of government funding, with around 43 percent coming from other sources. Maggie Pearce hopes that increased government funding can help establish similar support networks in smaller businesses, where her son Ben worked, as they often lack the resources and funding to develop such programs. By addressing mental health stigma through education and support, MATES aims to save lives in heavy industries.",
  "summary": "The Sydney mother has since become a volunteer at her workplace having hundreds of important conversations about mental health in an industry that has the largest share of male suicides.",
  "key_points": [
    "MATES charity targets suicide prevention in heavy industries",
    "1,383 men died by suicide in heavy industry in 2023-2024",
    "Charity emphasizes on-ground support networks for open mental health conversations"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}