we’re stronger together

A single conversation can save a life.

Coworkers can be a critical first line of support when someone is struggling.


Which is why the MATES program is focussed on our industry and delivered our workplaces by workers like you. MATES not your standard ‘one-and-done’ program. It’s embedded on the ground and builds upward with layers of training and robust systems of support.

Why? Because we’re here to create real change. And we know from experience that culture-shifting impact only happens with sustained and consistent action at every orgainzational level.

46+

out of every 100,000 male American construction workers die by suicide each year

53+

out of every 100,000 male Canadian construction workers die by suicide each year

4k+

over 3350 American and 750 Canadian men lost to suicide each year

"Suicide is a whole of industry challenge - that's why we champion a whole of industry approach"

MATES Field Officer

By industry, for industry.

Thanks to investment from Quanta, and with support from industry across North America, MATES has designed an evidence-backed pilot program that will hit the ground in 2026.

No judgement. 
No stigma.

Backed by Quanta and created by industry, the MATES program speaks OUR language.


MATES targets the unique stresses we face as workers in the construction and energy infrastructure industries, while also tackling the beliefs that hold us back from talking in an environment where toughness and self-reliance are king.

The change begins with you.

MATES is built on two beliefs: that suicide is everyone's business, and that the tools to deal with the challenge already exist in our industry: starting a conversation, lending a hand when someone is struggling and speaking up against stigma.


Our role is to help you use them to make a difference.

What are MATES Field Officers?

By your side onsite creating peer networks of support, these full-time roles employed by MATES are the heart of the program.


Drawn from blue collar roles, they are trusted peers who empower change from the coal face: visiting sites, delivering training and shifting culture, one connection at a time. As a Field Officer, you have a chance to lead from the front line and watch on as your work (and the real conversations it inspires) changes life on our sites for the better.

The time to act on suicide is now.

For construction workers, suicide is now responsible for five times more deaths than workplace accidents. We need to spark urgent change, for our industry and for the humans who work in it. If you’re ready, that change can start with you.


Become a changemaker - roles hiring soon
Become a strategic industry partner or program sponsor.

About the 
MATES Model

Engagement

We partner with industry leaders, unions, clients and safety bodies to position suicide prevention as a core part of doing business safely. Through sector briefings, standards, policies and public leadership, we support the industry to take ownership of the problem – and the solutions – at company, project and industry levels.

Raising awareness

We share clear, practical information about suicide risk in construction and the realities facing workers in North America. By talking openly about the issue and mapping simple pathways to support, we help workers, supervisors and leaders see that suicide is preventable and that help is available right now on and off site.

Capacity building

We deliver MATES General Awareness Talk (GAT), toolbox talks and site-based conversations that build mental health literacy and challenge stigma. Workers learn to spot invitations for support, talk safely about mental health and play an active role in creating safer, more supportive crews and workplaces.

Connecting to help

We train volunteer Connectors and ASIST workers and back them up with Field Officers and Case Managers. Together, they form a network of safety that offers help early, supports workers through tough times and links them to the right services, not just in a crisis but for ongoing care.

Advocacy & leadership

We partner with industry leaders, unions, clients and safety bodies to position suicide prevention as a core part of doing business safely. Through sector briefings, standards, policies and public leadership, we support the industry to take ownership of the problem – and the solutions – at company, project and industry levels.

Research & evaluation

We collect and analyse data on what we do and what difference it makes, guided by a clear evaluation framework aligned to the MATES logic model. By working with academic and industry partners, we turn real-world learning into evidence that improves the program over time and informs policy and practice across the sector.

Do I have what it takes?

If you care deeply about workers, are comfortable being out on sites, and can have honest conversations about tough topics, you might be a great fit. We’re looking for people who can listen, build trust quickly, and turn empathy into practical action.

Industry made. industry led. INDUSTRY BACKED.

Created by industry for industry, MATES approaches workers differently. It’s all about connection: creating a supportive environment where workers look out for each other, feel empowered to speak up, and know where to turn for help.


The program is led by peers, built around multiple layers of support and embedded into the specific industries it services. The cornerstone of the program is its focus on delivering consistent on-the-ground training, lifting levels of suicide awareness on site and giving every worker the skills (and permission) to start a life-saving conversation with their workmates.

Contact Us

If you’re interested in becoming part of the MATES team, finding out how you can support our work or discovering more about our program, then we’re keen to start the conversation!

Contact