Tradies mental health challenges

It’s important to acknowledge and talk about mental health challenges, as these two contractors know only too well.

We’re all aware that some of us face mental health challenges. We’re aware of the impact mental health challenges can have on individuals and those around them.

A couple of decades ago, no one talked about it. But now, mental health is widely acknowledged, and we’re all encouraged to talk about things, seek help and better understand the point at which we need to seek some help. It’s a massive step in the right direction.

However, recent events such as the death of West Coast premiership player Adam Selwood – only three months after his twin brother Troy died from suicide – just go to illustrate that mental health is a conversation that needs to be kept at the front of our minds, day in and day out.

We talk a lot in this issue about warning signs and where to seek help. It’s important to always be aware of those warning signs – but the challenge is that those signs aren’t always visible.

In the aftermath of losing someone to suicide, it’s not uncommon to hear:

‘We never thought he would do something like this’ or ‘He always seemed really happy and content’. 

Which makes it all the more important that we’re honest with ourselves. And, even if we think ‘It’ll all be ok’, it’s crucial we talk, open up, ask for help. Have the strength to say, ‘I’m not ok’ to someone who’ll listen.

Sharing your story

For James Knight, Director at O’Brien Electrical Fyshwick and a customer at Gemcell member Popes Electrical & Data Supplies, mental health has been a long-standing challenge, but through dedication and consistent effort, he has developed effective strategies to manage it and maintain balance in his life.

“It’s something I’ve always dealt with,” he says. “It’s changed over the years to present in different ways, but depression, anxiety, it’s always been there.”

For James, different scenarios can exacerbate his symptoms, and he constantly needs to be mindful and take actions to put himself in the best possible place to deal with them.

An ADHD diagnosis too helped James and his wife Nicole better understand a lot of his struggles and the things that triggered him, and has enabled him to put in place tactics to manage them effectively.

“Exercise is the big one for me,” he says. “I tried medicating, especially after the ADHD diagnosis, but I hated it. As a kid, I did a lot of BMX, mountain biking, things like that, but as I’ve gotten older I play more rugby, go to the gym – it really helps me get into a good headspace.”

Of course, staying in that good headspace can be difficult – and it takes a concerted effort to be there.

“If I’m moving into a shit space, that exercise is the first thing to go, but it’s the first thing I need. It doesn’t come naturally and it’s a conscious effort to make that work.”

Given his firsthand knowledge of mental health, it’s no surprise his business places great emphasis on the topic.

“We focus a lot on mental health and general wellbeing,” he says.

“We actually have an ‘employee liaison officer’ who’s empowered with tools to help our team if and when they need it. As business owners, Nicole and I are always there too, and our employee liaison officer is there if people don’t feel comfortable talking with us.”

Looking more broadly, James says that while conversations have become more frequent and access to help has become more widely available, there’s still a way to go.

“The current generation’s been brought up on it, but there’s still that older generation who were taught not to talk, and go to the pub and drink it off instead. It has improved, and as this current generation owns more businesses and are more influential, it becomes increasingly part of the everyday.”

If you’re a contractor who wants to get better at supporting your staff, James has this advice.

“Just be open about it. Share some of your own struggles – don’t be ashamed of it, make it normal to speak about stuff, check in with people. Ultimately, if you want to bring it back to business, people will want to work for you, so there’s that to think about too.”

The benefit of having the conversation

Alistair Schuback, CEO and Founder of A Frames Safety and Psychological Safety Training, works with businesses of all sizes every day to help create workspaces that are mentally and physically safe. He’s also an RUOK? Ambassador, and says those regular, meaningful conversations are essential.

“The impact can be profound,” says Alistair. “I’ve had conversations with people who have said they were in a really dark place and were considering doing something, but they haven’t. They are very grateful and I feel privileged to have helped.

“One of the messages of RUOK? is that a conversation can save a life, and I definitely believe that.”

Alistair says that for everyone, not just contractors, speaking openly about mental health has a maturity aspect to it, and sometimes people aren’t prepared to take what they perceive as being a social or interpersonal risk by opening up.

“It used to be difficult to talk about lots of things, and some people still defer to that history,” he says.

“But I encourage everyone to talk about it if they feel the need to, and for business owners it’s important to create the right environment for employees. Nearly everyone knows someone who’s had mental health issues, and for a business to show they’re on the front foot with this sort of stuff is really important in being an attractive employer.

“There’s a business aspect to this too – a lot of injuries that occur at work have a psychological component to them too. It’s been estimated that bringing mental health to the front of the conversation brings up to a 1500% return on investment – and that can bring a huge change in things such as staff retention, turnover and morale.”

For contractors, and any business, the key message is this: start by putting mental health on the agenda.

It can be surprising just how much a good thing can snowball.

Suppliers get in on the act

Gemcell suppliers are heavily involved in helping promote mental health help – and Trader’s relationship with TIACS (This is a Conversation Starter) is just one example.

For the past five years, Trader and TIACS have joined forces on an array of initiatives, including annual fundraising lunches, which have raised more than $151,000. In short, those funds have paid for 869 counseling sessions for more than 100 tradies.