EAP for Construction · Australia
The construction industry has Australia's highest suicide rate. Your EAP can help.
Male-dominated, physically demanding, and high-pressure — construction workers face unique mental health barriers. Resplora makes support accessible, confidential, and stigma-free.
Not a headline for effect — a documented fact
The crisis in construction
- Construction workers die by suicide at nearly twice the rate of the general Australian population
- For every 1 construction worker who dies on site, 9 die by suicide
- The industry has the second-highest rate of psychological distress of any Australian industry
- Rates of alcohol and substance use are significantly elevated among construction workers
- Help-seeking rates are among the lowest of any industry — particularly for men
- Sources: MATES in Construction, Black Dog Institute, Safe Work Australia.
Barriers to help-seeking
Why construction workers don't seek help (and how to change that)
Culture
“She’ll be right” and “harden up” attitudes remain entrenched in many construction environments. Seeking help is often perceived as weakness.
Practical barriers
Workers on site often don’t have time or privacy for a phone call during work hours. Traditional EAPs requiring phone referrals are poorly suited to the workday.
Transient employment
Workers move between sites and companies. Accessing services tied to a specific employer is complicated.
Online access removes the barriers
No phone calls, no gatekeepers, no waiting rooms. A worker can book from their phone on a lunch break and attend from their car or home.
WHS priority sector
WHS in construction
Construction is the highest-scrutiny sector for WHS enforcement in Australia. Psychosocial hazards — high physical risk, long hours, job insecurity, and remote site work — are all documented.
Regulator focus
Safe Work Australia and state WHS regulators have explicitly targeted the construction sector in psychosocial hazard compliance programs.
An expectation, not a nice-to-have
For construction companies, an EAP is increasingly a WHS expectation.
Documented control measure
A documented EAP demonstrates you identified the risk and implemented a control — a legally significant defence.
Worked example
Construction business, 30 workers
A construction company with 30 employees sets up Resplora EAP. In the first year, 4 workers access the service — 3 use 2 counselling sessions each, 1 uses 3 counselling sessions.
Setup
$199 (once)
Counselling — 9 sessions × $150
$1,350
Total year 1
$1,549
One workers’ compensation claim for a psychological injury averages $65,000–$90,000. An EAP is the cheapest risk management tool available.
WHS in this sector
WHS in construction
Construction is the highest-scrutiny sector for WHS enforcement in Australia. Psychosocial hazards — high physical risk, long hours, job insecurity, and remote site work — are all documented.
Safe Work Australia and state WHS regulators have explicitly targeted the construction sector in psychosocial hazard compliance programs. An EAP is increasingly a WHS expectation, not a nice-to-have.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions — Construction
How do we promote this to workers who are resistant to mental health conversations?
Frame it simply: “There’s a free counselling service available if you ever want to talk to someone — no judgment, completely private.” You don’t need to use the phrase “mental health.” MATES in Construction has excellent guidance on workplace conversations.
Our workers are on different sites. Can they all access this?
Yes. Access is online — workers book from anywhere and attend via video call. Site location doesn’t matter.
Do you have male therapists available?
Yes. Men seeking to speak with a male therapist can filter by gender when choosing.
Meet your obligations
Protect your team and meet your WHS obligations —
starting at $199
This page provides general information only. It is not legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a WHS consultant or employment lawyer.