Taking a proactive approach to suicide prevention through supporting healthier and happier lives: The Healthy Tradie Project 

Research shows around 190 Australians working in the construction industry die by suicide each year. And construction workers are 6 times more likely to die by suicide than in a workplace accident.¹   

Pip Seldon, founder of the Healthy Tradie Project and ACT Operations Manager of Kane Constructions, lost her brother, a carpenter, to suicide. For Ms Seldon, her experience and the statistics highlighted the need for action and change in the construction industry; she established the Healthy Tradie Project to introduce wellbeing strategies and support systems into the industry.  

The construction industry had safety procedures and resources for workers who had reached a crisis point, but there were few early intervention programs to stop people reaching crisis point. The Healthy Tradie Project focuses on early intervention wellness programs on building and construction sites. The Healthy Tradie team engage workers with practical exercises and give them tools to remain calm when things get stressful.   

The Healthy Tradie Project creates safe spaces in a largely male-dominated industry via 3 pillars:   

• Movement: Before work movement sessions with a focus on improving mobility and flexibility that reduces the potential for injury.  These sessions also provide a space for communication and support on the work site.   
• Mindfulness: Breathwork is used as a tool to better respond to the stress and pressure workers face every day in construction. Breathwork can help regulate the nervous system, increase energy levels and assist with improved sleep.   
• Nutrition: Nutritional education explains how different foods affect an individual's mood and energy levels and provides coaching and support in fuelling the body to perform at its best.   

The tailored workshops are delivered to Tradies and focus on 6 key areas for a healthy and balanced life: movement, mindset, nutrition, sleep, sun and play. Workers also learn the language to define present emotions and stresses and introduce habits to increase their quality of life.   

The project has received plenty of positive anecdotal feedback. Some managers have noticed behavioural changes in workers: how they approach everyday work and respond to and manage stressful situations. Some workers have benefited from breathwork and movement sessions, saying it helps them calm down when stressed and respond more constructively.   

The Healthy Tradie Project has also won some awards, such as the 2017 National Association of Women in Construction ACT Innovation in Construction Award and the 2020 Australian Men’s Health Forum ACT Men’s Health Award.   

Ms Seldon’s advice is for organisations and industries to take a holistic approach:   

• The construction industry relies on people; we must put the health of our workers front of mind.    
• Educate workers with the tools to support their health and wellbeing and create an environment where they can thrive.

“Wellbeing is the key to workers leading a happy, healthy, productive and meaningful life. Your people will be more present, more mindful, happier and healthier at work, which all impacts safety.” Pip Seldon, Healthy Tradie Project Founder 

¹ Mates in Construction, 2022, ‘Why Mates exists: the problem