When Nick McEwen-Hall looks out his South Bank window at construction workers scaling scaffolding, he sees something most of us miss. While we worry about harnesses and hard hats, Nick sees the invisible risks; the ones that claim six times more lives than physical workplace injuries ever will.
"None of those people would turn up to that work site on day one, and everyone just goes, 'Yeah, up you go,'" Nick tells me during our recent conversation. "There'd be induction, there'd be training, there'd be risk assessments... But what organisations miss is that by bringing a human into that environment, that is a piece of equipment that business is choosing to bring on site."
It's a jarring way to think about it, but Nick's point cuts deep: we protect bodies meticulously while leaving minds to fend for themselves.
The Numbers We Don't Talk About at Smoko
The statistics are sobering. According to Safe Work NSW, construction workers are six times more likely to die by suicide than from a workplace accident. That's approximately 190 workers lost to suicide annually - one every second day - compared to 45 workplace accident deaths in 2023.
Think about that for a moment. In my career spanning decades in construction, I've known three people who've taken their own lives. I don't know anyone personally who's had a workplace fatality. The most dangerous thing on a construction site isn't the height, the machinery, or the electrical hazards, it's what's happening inside workers' heads.
Recent research from the University of Western Australia found that one in four construction workers exhibit high symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. Nearly 30% have experienced suicidal thoughts in the past year. These aren't just numbers; they're our mates, our crews, our industry.
"I'm Fine" and Other Construction Site Lies
Nick shares a revealing observation from his morning milk run. "All the tradies are turning up to work and they're talking to each other about how their kids are giving them the shits, how the traffic was awful, how they're really tired. And I'm like, that's your mental health you're talking about."
We're already having these conversations. We just don't label them as mental health. The moment we do, something shifts. Suddenly, it becomes taboo, weak, "not our problem."
But here's what Nick taught me: expressing feelings isn't always the answer. Sometimes, it's not about talking at all.
I told Nick about someone very close to me who's battled mental health issues for decades. He's one of the most articulate people I know when it comes to expressing himself, yet he still goes through devastating troughs. When I asked what I could have done differently during his last episode, his answer was simple: "Not really. I had to go through it."
"Don't undervalue how important just being there is," Nick responds. "We still live in a world where people see someone struggling and turn their heads away. When somebody does show up and stay connected, that has immense value."
Spotting the Signs (They're More Obvious Than You Think)
"We can learn what mental health and mental illness looks like," Nick insists, gently challenging the notion that mental health is invisible. "We can say that person doesn't look like themselves. They don't seem like themselves. They've changed."
Research from Workplace Mental Health identifies persistent changes lasting at least two weeks as key warning signs. Managers trained to recognise these signs are up to 20 times more likely to approach an employee who needs help. The signs include:
- Working longer hours without expected outputs
- Withdrawal from colleagues and social activities
- Increased errors and accidents
- Disheveled appearance or reduced attention to grooming
- Frequent sick leave or unexplained absences
"If someone came limping into the office, people would go, 'What have you done to yourself? Are you okay?'" Nick points out. "But those same people are showing up with mental health symptoms already, and some are being respected the same way, others aren't."
The Power of Leading by Example
In my sailing business, I've learned something crucial: every time I admit a mistake, it gives my team permission to do the same. "Nobody's screwed up more in this business than me," I tell them. It relaxes everyone around the table.
Nick agrees this principle applies perfectly to mental health. "If you're a boss and you want your team to tell you how they're going, you've gotta be telling them how you are going. You can't sit there and go, 'All right, how is everybody?' with the mask on."
It's about saying, "I'm stressed out this week. The delays are driving me up the wall." Not complaining—just being honest about what everyone can already see.
Beyond "Are You Okay?"
While R U OK? Day has done tremendous work breaking down stigma, Nick emphasises we need to go further. "Just saying to people, 'Look, you can tell me everything,' that's fantastic. But that's not where we should stop. Where we should go next is: 'Cool, what can I do? How can I help you?'"
The MATES in Construction program, which has trained over 300,000 workers since 2008, demonstrates what this looks like in practice. With 22,000 volunteer 'connectors' creating networks of support.
Treat It Like a Broken Ankle
Nick's most powerful advice? Treat mental health exactly like physical health.
"If this was an equivalent physical health issue, how would I be handling it? If that means I'd go to a GP, go to a GP. If that means go to the hospital, go to the hospital. If that means I might do a bit of Googling, do that."
He recommends starting with Medicare Mental Health (medicarementalhealth.gov.au), a comprehensive directory of services across Australia. It includes a quiz to help work out what might be going on—a practical first step when you're not sure where to begin.
Creating a Culture Where It's Safe to Struggle
The evidence from companies like Fulton Hogan, one of Australia's largest construction companies, shows what's possible. After implementing mental health first aid training with the goal of having one to two trained supporters at every site, they've seen:
- Significant cultural shifts in openness around mental health
- Creation of trusted peer networks
- Early intervention capability
- "Dwindling fear and hesitation" around mental health discussions
But Nick warns against one-size-fits-all approaches. "It's such an individual sport, this one. Everyone goes through things so individually and so differently."
The Bottom Line
After our conversation, I'm left with a simple but profound shift in thinking. We don't hesitate to report a safety hazard on site. We don't think twice about getting a cut checked if it looks infected. We take time off for a twisted ankle without shame.
Mental health deserves the same pragmatic response.
As Nick puts it: "We're dealing with a health state." Not weakness, not character flaws: health. And like any health issue, ignoring it won't make it go away.
If you're struggling, or worried about someone who is, remember Nick's advice: engage with it like you would any health concern. See your GP. Call a helpline. Tell someone what's going on.
Because here's the truth that matters more than any statistic: there's a world of support out there. Sometimes the hardest part is just reaching for it.
Resources:
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
- MATES in Construction: 1300 642 111
- Medicare Mental Health: medicarementalhealth.gov.au
If you or someone you know needs immediate help, please call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department.
