Mates4Life: Tumu Timbers creates suicide prevention programme for Hawke's Bay after worker's death

Hawke's Bay DHB suicide prevention co-ordinator Kerry Gilbert and Tumu Timbers' James Truman and Bronnie Coory are the local founders of Mates4Life. Photo / Paul Taylor

A Hawke's Bay company that lost an employee to suicide is rolling out a free suicide prevention programme for businesses across the region.

Tumu Timbers has been developing Mates4Life over the past two years. Administration team leader Bronnie Coory and Hawke's Bay DHB suicide prevention co-ordinator Kerry Gilbert have been at the coalface of it.

Tumu Timbers general manager James Truman and Caroline Wilson of A-OK New Zealand have also played a big part in getting it ready for the public.

Truman said it was important for Hawke's Bay to build a regional approach to the issue, as the region's suicide rates are about twice the national average.

In Ministry of Health statistics, the Hawke's Bay DHB had a rate of 20.3 suspected suicides in 2020 per 100,000 people, which is almost double the national rate of 11.3 suspected suicides in the same year.

"It's made a huge difference to our workplace culture by normalising these conversations about how we feel," he said.

It was also important to Truman that the programme was locally based because nationally-led programmes felt fleeting, and band-aids to the issue.

"They fly in and out of workplaces with no people on the ground long-term.

"We wanted to have a homegrown, non-industry-specific strategy here," he said.

A Mates4Life local suicide prevention programme in session. Photo / Supplied

A pilot of the Mates4Life programme has already been delivered to 364 employees at Tumu Group and Bostock New Zealand.

Between the two businesses, 49 staff have been trained as connectors, who act in a support capacity for colleagues who are struggling with their mental health.

Another 11 staff have been trained as "safety aiders", who provide support to connectors with intervention strategies, tools and safety plans.

Tumu Group managing director John O'Sullivan said that Mates4Life only requires one intervention to consider the kaupapa worthwhile.

"If we can ensure that a workplace and a family home aren't impacted by the traumatic loss of a colleague or loved one, that's our measure of success," O'Sullivan said.

Bostock New Zealand Group human resources manager Rhonda Simpson said Bostock was grateful to be included in the pilot, as mental health support was crucial in the horticulture industry.

"The feedback from the team is that the session was great, relatable and important. It has certainly raised awareness and started some pretty deep conversations here," Simpson said.

Tumu Timbers created the Mates Hawke's Bay Charitable Trust to secure funding for the Mates4Life programme.

The Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Primary Industries and Royston Health Trust contributed a combined sum of $130,000 to help establish it.

Ministry for Primary Industries director of rural communities and farming support Nick Story said he believed in the potential of the programme to reach diverse industries within the region.

"Because the Mates4Life programme has such a strong local flavour it will appeal to all sorts of businesses.

"The foundations have been laid and we are very supportive of the programme which we see going from strength to strength," Story said.

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