YOUR MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

Every year, 190 Australians who work in the construction industry take their own lives. In fact, tradies and construction workers are six times more likely to die from suicide than an accident at work. The problem is real; but are we doing our part to address it?

Society has made great strides in destigmatising the conversation surrounding mental health in the last two decades. The revised National Mental Health Policy in 2008 renewed the efforts for the continual improvement of Australia’s mental health system, which aims to detect, intervene early, promote recovery, and ensure that all Australians have access to effective and appropriate treatment and community support.

In 2006, Medicare adapted the benefits schedule to prioritise mental health treatment that resulted in over 4.95 million mental health treatment plans being prescribed.

More recently, in 2021, the Morrison Government allocated an additional $2.3 billion in funding dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and workforce applications of mental health.

While many safeguards and policies have been put in place, the fight against mental health stigma continues. And the risks are even more pressing than ever in this post-COVID, fast-paced, and digital world, where more and more people suffer from mental health risks at home and at work.

People who work in construction trades like plumbing are even more at risk. They work in an environment where there can be a lot of pressure and psychosocial risks, but talking about mental health struggles has not been traditionally part of their culture. Long hours, physically demanding tasks, and unforgiving weather conditions—these can add up, and burnout can result in poor work-life balance that can significantly affect their mental health.

Ignoring the signs of mental health struggles will not make them go away. In fact, the Queensland Government has raised some warning signs that may be indications of anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues that can lead to suicide. Anger, alcoholism, sadness, financial pressure, and separation may be telltale signs that someone—or maybe even you—needs help.

It’s okay to seek help. It’s okay to talk to others about it. It’s okay to prioritise yourself. The first step to ending the culture of stigma around mental health is dealing with your own personal struggles, and accepting that you, too, deserve to be okay.

This article highlights some good habits to form to maintain a stable mental health and things you can do if you feel you or your coworker are struggling.

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Mates helping Mates

Here at MPAQ, we value your mental health. Last year, MPAQ worked with MATES in Construction, a charity established in 2008 to reduce the high level of suicide among Australian construction workers. MATES provides suicide prevention through community development programs on sites, and by supporting workers in need through case management and a 24/7 help line. Thanks to the support of our members and partners, a total of $16,500 was raised for MATES for the whole of 2022. Even though we’ve ended our fundraising, MPAQ continues to work closely with MATES to promote mental health in our industry.

Refer to the Code.

The Managing the risk of psychosocial hazards at work Code of Practice is a practical guide on how to prevent harm from psychosocial hazards at work. All workplaces are covered by this Code of Practice. If there are psychological health and safety issues that you cannot resolve at the workplace level, you can always escalate this to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) for help.

Educate yourself.

We are lucky to be living in a time when resources can be abundant online. Read up on mental health conditions, warning signs and symptoms, and support available from private and government agencies. For employers, offering mental health resources to your staff will help lessen the stigma in the workplace. Provide Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services to your workers and run workshops and seminars to let them know that mental health conversations are welcome in your workplace.

Start a conversation.

The conversation can only start when someone has the initiative to do it. It may be challenging at first to open up about what you’re going through, but opening up to someone lets them know that they can open up to you about their own struggles, too. Just like dealing with a clogged pipe that can burst when too much pressure builds up, you have to cut it open to let it all out before you can start mending.

Ask, R U OK?

Conversation is a two-way highway. In the same way that you allow yourself to share your own struggles, you should also create a space for others to do the same. When you are working with someone 40 hours a week, it’s easy enough to spot when something is off. Instead of shrugging it off, let them know that you are a safe space. Getting through the temporary awkwardness at first may be worth it to make an impact on someone and save them from potentially getting worse down the line.

Talk to a professional.

In the same way that you want people to go to a Master Plumber when they need to deal with plumbing issues at home, you should be comfortable in seeking out professional support when it comes to mental health problems. Early intervention is key. The more you put it off and wait until you cannot handle things any longer, the harder it is to bounce back. If you’re unsure where to start, your GP is always the best person to talk to for recommendations on locally accessible services.

Take time off for yourself.

Sometimes, you need to step back and reassess how you are feeling and how you are handling your workload. This may be challenging when your workplace or boss is not as supportive. Rest is the most underrated resource that our body needs, and if that oneday off can make an otherwise terrible week a more tolerable one, talk to your employer.

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