*This content discusses suicide. For support, contact Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14.

Sally-ann is the Executive Manager of Eather Group, a transport and civil contract business that specialises in sustainable transport, waste management and earthmoving. After losing her father, Darrell, to suicide just four months after the business’ launch in 2010, Sally-ann became a strong advocate for talking openly about mental health and supporting workplace wellbeing initiatives.

Our family business, Eather Group, began with just one vehicle – an old pink Mack truck. My husband, Peter, and I were still working other jobs when we decided to take a chance on his idea, pooling all our resources to buy that first truck. I remember how hard it was to find a driver because of the truck’s colour, so we painted it white.

Today, we employ almost 40 staff and operate a strong fleet specialising in sustainable transport, waste management and earthmoving. Getting here, however, has involved a long journey of both professional and personal growth.

Just four months after registering the business, my dad, Darrell, took his own life. He died on 25 October, aged 61. His death came as a shock. His mental health decline was sudden, and he had never shown any signs of being suicidal.

To the outside world, Dad was a larrikin: always joking, always working hard. He had a big family, and after he died, we realised he had been the glue holding everyone together. Over time, I came to understand that beneath his outward energy, he had experienced deep sadness, including the loss of my baby brother and a brain injury sustained in a serious car accident.

At the time of my dad’s death, I found myself dealing with overwhelming grief while also facing the pressures of building a startup business. It took a long time to process my loss and work through the hurt and rejection I initially felt as his child. What ultimately helped me move forward was talking openly with professionals and with the people in my life.

I believe that when it comes to suicide, people often avoid the conversation, but speaking openly about my dad’s passing helped me, and perhaps helped others too. I often say I belong to a club I never wanted to join, but I want to be honest with others about how they can support themselves and those around them. I know my dad loved us deeply, and I now understand that his death had nothing to do with us as his children.

In the years that followed, two other important people in my life died by suicide – my cousin Daniel and Sebastian, a mechanical subcontractor who was part of our business family. Sebastian’s death was particularly close to home for us as a business, and it shaped how we care for our staff and subcontractors to this day.

At Eather Group, we strive to be an employer of choice for diversity. While attracting a diverse workforce is important, retaining it is just as critical. That means creating a psychosocially safe environment where people at all levels look out for one another and feel supported at work. Although staff are busy and work across different sites, we try to strike a balance, so our people still feel part of a family.

A few times each year, we hold company-wide town halls and departmental lunch-and-learn sessions, where we bring in expert speakers to discuss mental health. We also prioritise regular staff get-togethers, family days, end-of-year celebrations, and fundraising events to help people feel valued and connected – not just within the business but in the community. Physical health is another focus: encouraging good nutrition, quality sleep, and reducing alcohol and smoking, all of which support strong mental health.

As a leader, it’s important to look out for your people so you can notice changes in their appearance or behaviour and respond early. Maybe they’re usually bubbly but have become withdrawn. Maybe they once took pride in their appearance but no longer do. These changes can be signs that something deeper is going on.  We encourage a buddy system, so everyone is looking out for their mates.

It’s also important to be honest about how you’re feeling. Saying, “I’m struggling,” or “I’m not running at 100 per cent,” gives others permission to do the same. Things can change quickly, and sometimes the signs are hidden. Taking genuine interest, asking how someone is going and truly listening can make a difference. Asking a mate, colleague or family member, ‘are you OK?’ could save their life.