Earlier this month, the 2023 Suicide Awareness Ball was hosted by the OzHelp Foundation (OzHelp) and Master Builders ACT. More than 300 individuals came together with a common goal – to raise awareness about suicide prevention in one of the most affected industries in Australia.
Every day, an average of nine Aussies die by suicide. The startling majority (75 per cent) of whom are men; with those in construction and transport industries being particularly affected.
In 2021, over 240,000 individuals connected with OzHelp’s services, which aim to address the wellbeing and care of the community with a focus on industry apprentices.
CEO of OzHelp, Hamish Thomson, said that while the numbers are stark, they are still not a true reflection of the impact mental health challenges cause.
“Mental health and suicide has always been a tough subject to discuss,” said Mr Thomson.
“Numbers and data get thrown around constantly, but they do not do justice to the impact on those who are struggling, those who have lost their lives, and those who work tirelessly to support people facing mental health challenges.”
He said that stories like that of David and Loraine O’Bryan show the importance for all industries to work together to influence positive change.
OzHelp was established in 2001 after David O’Bryan, a young building apprentice from Canberra, took his own life.
That same year, three others who were connected to the ACT building and construction industry died by suicide within a three-month period.
These events brought together David’s mother, Loraine O’Bryan, with representatives from the Master Builders Association, and the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union ACT Branch to collaborate on the formation of OzHelp.
“There were definite signs,” said Ms O’Bryan, on days leading up to her son’s suicide. “I knew he wasn’t ready to go back to work and he told me so.”
Within a week of his return to work, “we lost David,” said Ms O’Bryan.
On the night of the ball, more than $150,000 was raised to empower OzHelp to get more “boots on the ground” to assist individuals in high-risk, hard to reach industries.
“These funds will help OzHelp to expand our reach throughout the remainder of 2023 and beyond,” said Mr Thomson.
If you or someone you know needs support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467, available 24/7.
Building and construction workers can call Health in Trades on 1300 694 357 and transport and logistics workers can call Health in Gear on 1800 464 327, operated by The OzHelp Foundation.
Get local, national and world news, plus sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
