Mental health and support lines for tree workers

This page gives contact details and says what each organisation says about itself. It is not medical advice and it does not tell anyone what to do. If someone is in immediate danger, the emergency number in your country is on the lists below. Numbers and hours change.

Crisis lines first

Country	Line	Number
United States	988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline	Call or text 988
Canada	9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline	Call or text 9-8-8
United Kingdom	Samaritans	116 123
United Kingdom	NHS 111, mental health option	111
Australia	Lifeline	13 11 14
New Zealand	1737, Need to talk	Call or text 1737

More detail on each, in the order of the table, follows. Emergency numbers are on each country's list: 9-1-1 in Canada, 999 in the United Kingdom, 000 in Australia and 111 in New Zealand.

United States

On the official 988 Lifeline page, it says using the Lifeline is free and that a conversation by call, text or chat is confidential. It says the service runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and that people do not have to be suicidal to call. Reasons it lists include substance use, economic worries, relationships, illness and loneliness.

Spanish. The page says to dial 988 and then press 2 for a Spanish-speaking counselor, or to text AYUDA to 988.
Veterans. The page says veterans, service members and their loved ones can reach the Veterans Crisis Line by calling 988 and pressing 1, or by texting 838255.
Deaf and hard of hearing. For TTY users the page says to use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.

Construction suicide prevention

The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP) says on its about page that it is a 501(c)(3) focused on construction mental wellness and suicide prevention. Its get help page repeats 988 and adds "Text HELLO to 741741 to connect with a counselor". It prints a phone number of 844-989-4855. CIASP's pages are about the construction industry and do not name tree work.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a science bulletin, Preventing Construction Worker Suicide, on September 8, 2026. It describes the COMPASS framework, for construction contractors building a mental health and suicide prevention program. It says the framework was inspired by the MATES in Construction program in Australia.

Canada

The official 9-8-8 site says call or text 9-8-8 reaches support 24 hours a day, every day of the year. It says to call 9-1-1 right away if your safety is at risk. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) opens its mental health page with the same line, "call or text 9-8-8 anytime", and says to call 9-1-1 or go to a local emergency department in immediate danger.

That CCOHS page also lists fact sheets, including ones on job burnout, post-traumatic stress disorder and psychosocial risk factors in the workplace. It lists e-courses too, some marked free and some with a price.

In British Columbia, WorkSafeBC explains in its mental health injury claims page that it provides benefits for some mental health injuries related to employment, though not all qualify. The page says the first step in a claim is to report it, as with a physical injury. It says acceptance needs a diagnosis by a psychiatrist or psychologist and that some employer decisions, such as discipline or workload, cannot ground a claim. Other provinces have their own boards.

United Kingdom

Samaritans say on their own contact page that you can call any time, from any phone, for free on 116 123. It says the number is free from landlines and mobiles, including pay-as-you-go mobiles. The same page says its email service has closed in the UK and that its web chat is a small pilot that is not available to everyone.

The NHS page on where to get urgent help for mental health says to get help from 111 online, or call 111 and select the mental health option. It says 111 will tell you the right place to get help and that you may be able to speak to a trained mental health professional over the phone. It lists Samaritans on 116 123 as a free listening service. It says to call 999 or go to A&E if someone's life is at risk or you do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe.

Construction industry charity

Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity describes a free 24/7 helpline on its support page, with the UK number printed as 0345 605 1956. The page also lists a one-to-one online chat with helpline advisors, which it says is available 24/7 and offered in over 100 languages. It says support rests on emotional, physical and financial wellbeing. Its eligibility line says "If you are currently working in construction or have worked longer in construction than any other industry, we can help you". The page does not name tree work.

Health and Safety Executive

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has a page on suicide prevention at work, aimed at employers. It says employers have a duty of care for workers' health, safety and welfare and that most suicides are preventable with appropriate interventions. HSE's page of advice for employees with mental health conditions says your employer must protect you from mental health and stress at work risks in the same way as other health and safety risks.

Australia

Lifeline Australia's own crisis support page prints these numbers, each marked available 24/7 on the page:

Call: 13 11 14, which the page calls free and confidential help for anyone in Australia.
Text: 0477 13 11 14.
13YARN: 13 92 76, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander callers.
Natural disaster line: 13 HELP (13 43 57), described as Lifeline's dedicated support line for people affected by extreme weather.

The page says to call Triple Zero (000) if life is in danger. Chat is offered on the same page.

MATES in Construction

The official MATES Helpline page gives 1300 642 111 and calls it a 24/7 confidential service answered by qualified counsellors, psychologists and social workers who know the industry. It says the helpline is free and confidential "for construction, Mining, Energy, and Manufacturing workers and their families". It says a case manager follows up during business hours, 8.00am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday. The page also says to call 000 if you are concerned about someone's safety. Tree work is not named on that page.

Workplace regulators

Two regulator pages bear on this. WorkSafe Victoria's psychological health page says the Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025 have commenced. It also lists a free online session for small and medium businesses. In New South Wales, the Tree works code of practice, which commenced on March 27, 2026, has a section on psychosocial hazards. It says a person conducting a business or undertaking has a duty to manage the risk of psychosocial hazards, and its examples include remote or isolated work, such as working alone or in other people's homes.

New Zealand

The official 1737 page says 1737 is a free, confidential helpline, available 24/7, where you can text or call 1737 any time to reach a trained counsellor. It adds a peer support service, phone only, daily from 2pm to 10pm. It says plainly that 1737 is not a crisis team or a mental health service for people with severe mental illness or psychological distress. The 1737 home page says to call 111 if someone is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others.

WorkSafe New Zealand's page information for workers, where to get help lists the following, and shows a last-updated date of July 8, 2021:

1737, free call or text any time.
Lifeline, 0800 543 354 or text 4357.
Samaritans, 0800 726 666.
Healthline, 0800 611 116, to ask for the Crisis Team in your area. The page says to call 111 in an emergency.

The official Lifeline Aotearoa site prints the helpline 0800 543 354, text Help (4357) and a Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0508 828 865, and says to call 111 in immediate danger. Its news list also carries an item dated November 6, 2025 about reduced operating hours.

MATES in Construction New Zealand

The MATES New Zealand get help page prints "Need help now? Call 0800 111 315" and also lists 1737. It says that on a construction site that has had MATES training, trained volunteers can be found by a green badge on the hard hat (a Connector) or a blue badge (an ASIST worker). MATES Australia's home page says MATES NZ was established in 2019 and runs on-site training, peer support, case management and a 24/7 support line. As with Australia, the pages do not name tree work.

WorkSafe New Zealand also has a mental health section. It lists guidelines on managing psychosocial risks at work and infographics on psychosocial risks for sectors including forestry and construction.

Where to look next

For what the agencies say about the physical side of the work, see health hazards in tree work and storm work. For the free safety reading list, see free safety resources.