Bruce Highway upgrade team raise awareness for mental health

During May, the Bruce Highway Upgrade, Caloundra Road to Sunshine Motorway (CR2SM) project is doing their bit during Mental Health Awareness Month.

The project provided Trade Mutt PPE shirts for all employees, these shirts featured funky designs and bright colours in order to shine a light on suicide awareness and prevention.

Amanda Yeates, Transport and Main Roads Infrastructure Management and Delivery Deputy Director-General, said she has been a supporter of the Trade Mutt initiative for a while, and appreciates the importance they have in raising awareness for such a significant topic, particularly in this industry.

“With these shirts, the CR2SM workers will start conversations, not just on site, but within the local community,” Ms. Yeates said.

According to Mates in Construction (MIC), every year 190 Australians working in this industry take their own lives, meaning workers in construction are over two times more likely to take their own lives than other Australian men.

Project Director of CR2SM, Brad Thompson said the shirts also hit a personal note for many.

“Having worked in the industry for a number of years now, I know firsthand how we can all be touched by suicide in some way,” he said.

In conjunction with Trade Mutt and MIC, CR2SM hopes to reduce the stigma around discussions about suicide.

The CR2SM project is funded on an 80/20 basis with the Federal Government contributing $650.36 million and the Queensland Government contributing $162.59 million. The project is being delivered by a joint venture between Fulton Hogan and Seymour Whyte on behalf of Transport and Main Roads.

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