CONTENT WARNING: This article involves a discussion on mental health and substance abuse. Reading this story may be difficult, especially if you’ve had similar experiences or supported a friend or family member. If you’re feeling impacted, contact Beyond Blue for immediate support, Lifeline on 13 11 14 , Headspace, or your local GP.

Founded in 2012, the aim of the HIA Charitable Foundation (HIACF) is to improve health and welfare outcomes for HIA members, their families and the wider community. HIA is marking the 10th anniversary of its relationship with the mental health support organisation, Beyond Blue, through its Charitable Foundation.

Since 2014, they have joined forces to raise awareness of anxiety and depression and break the stigma surrounding mental health in the residential building industry. In that time, the Foundation has provided $1.3 million to Beyond Blue, funding a world-first National Suicide Prevention Research Project and now the 24/7 Beyond Blue Support Service, helping more than 16,500 people through its donations.

Partnering with Beyond Blue came about after the Foundation explored charities that had the greatest impact on HIA members. Part of that included researching what issues impacted our industry, not just isolated to our members that work onsite, as a large part of our membership work is in offices.

Initially, funds were directed to research into suicide prevention so it would shape how education in mental health was discussed and messaging was targeted. In the past few years, funding has gone to Beyond Blue's national support service, which operates around the clock.

The service is a free 24/7 telephone and online counselling service for everyone in Australia and staffed by trained professionals who provide counselling, advice and referrals. In a male-dominated industry that rides economic ups and downs, mental health is known to suffer. The rate of suicide among construction workers is twice that of other industries. Workers are six times more likely to die by suicide than by a workplace accident, while male apprentices are two-and-a-half times more likely to take their own lives than other young men their age.

Most builders are in small businesses or operate as sole traders where punishing hours, unpredictable income and cash flow, multiple responsibilities, managing staff and clients and risk of business failure can lead to anxiety and depression, at times compounded by alcohol and substance abuse. This decade has also seen the pandemic, lockdowns and the economic fallout that continues today.

Mental health remains a significant issue for the industry. Through COVID and the financial stress that has followed, we know education and support are still in demand. A prime example is the number of people who joined or subscribed to the Beyond Blue webinar.

HIA members continue to grapple with difficult trading conditions, rising costs, labour shortages and business failures, perfect conditions for pressures to build and mental health problems to emerge. It’s important these are not ignored, and help is sought.

Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman says her organisation encourages people in the building industry to know the early signs of mental health conditions, be there for their colleagues and seek support as early as possible.

Foundation Chair Pino Monaco says it has been an extraordinarily worthwhile partnership that has developed between Beyond Blue and the Foundation. ‘Since our first donation made to Beyond Blue, HIACF’s sustained, tireless work in this area has now raised more than $1.3 million and, by putting mental health front and centre, potentially launched thousands of life-saving conversations,' says Pino. 'The need for mental health support is real and growing.'

Georgie says a partnership that lasts a decade is very special, and it continues to grow from strength to strength. 'We’re incredibly grateful for the HIA Charitable Foundation’s ongoing support; it helps us to answer every single call from every single person who reaches out to the Beyond Blue support service. Together, we are making a massive difference.’

The HIACF believes ‘mental health starts where we live, work and play’, and as an industry, can make a significant impact to address the problem and save lives.

You’re not alone

Over the years, HIA has highlighted inspirational stories from people about their mental health journey and recovery. Mental health concerns can be triggered by work pressures, a trauma or loss, often with underlying issues at play, but the recovery journey has one common factor – it's never taken alone.

These testimonials extend a hand to those on a similar path and offer a way back. An example is hard-working Lake Macquarie builder Dave Butler who leaned on alcohol as his business, family and the accompanying pressures grew. For him, a few beers after work developed over time into a full-blown drinking problem that put his business at risk and nearly destroyed his marriage to his wife, Lizelle.

‘In our industry, having a couple of drinks seemed a common way to cope,’ says Dave, who runs Butler Building. ‘I didn’t even question it.’ As his drinking increased, Dave’s mental health declined and he became unmotivated and moody with a short fuse, which affected team morale and decision-making. While at home, he started to disconnect from Lizelle and his son. He became stuck in a cycle of working, drinking and apologising. 

Eventually, Dave sought rehab and is finding new ways to switch off without alcohol and becoming better at opening up to Lizelle.

Dave is also grateful for the help he has had from his building community. Lizelle hopes their experience will also help partners know they’re not alone.

Accountant Amanda Linton went through a marriage breakdown and the failure of another long- term relationship with long working hours. ‘Just throw yourself into work’ proved the worst advice she could get.

A fortuitous phone call from a friend proved to be the turning point. Her friend listened, and this time the advice was worth taking: see her GP and get help. A burnt-out Amanda reduced her workload, reached out to a few trusted confidants and turned to Beyond Blue for help.

Years later, Amanda began sharing her experience, talking to groups and conferences and writing.

Amanda says her biggest lesson was recognising she couldn't go it alone. She now volunteers as a speaker for Beyond Blue.

Beyond Blue ambassador and speaker Bobby Fitzsimmons offers tips to help manage mental health issues in the residential building industry. He first experienced mental health problems when he was a teenager due to a traumatic event as a child. These re-emerged years later when the combination of long work hours and travel took their toll.

The death of a close friend from leukemia forced him to reassess his life, and he took a three-month break.

‘But seeing my best mate go through 12 months of a life-threatening illness that sadly took his life, it gave me perspective,’ he says.

Still struggling at times with his mental health despite a successful work-from-home role, Bobby visited a Beyond Blue event and was inspired to help others, especially young men. ‘If it's just one person I can positively impact by sharing my journey, that's a great day for me.’

Cabinetmaker Jake Russell has a profound feeling of responsibility to normalise talking about feelings and seeking help after pursuing therapy following a suicide attempt as a teenager.

'I would encourage anyone to speak up, then find positive avenues to get those feelings out. Speak to an objective third party – just to start the conversation,’ he says. 
'As an employer or friend, when someone entrusts you with their feelings, the reaction and first response should be compassion.

An estimated 90 per cent of the residential construction sector is made up of small businesses and sole traders, and these operators face unique pressures that can lead to poor mental health. The responsibility of keeping a business going in the face of what Beyond Blue Chief Engagement Officer Greg Jennings calls a perfect storm of competing pressures can be overwhelming.

‘It’s challenging times for small businesspeople. Research shows that around one in three small business owners reported a diagnosis of stress, anxiety or depression over a 12-month period,’ he says.

Seeking help before those pressures become too much to bear is key. That’s why Beyond Blue’s NewAccess for Small Business Owners (NASBO) program is coming into its own. A guided mental health coaching program, NASBO is free, confidential, and convenient, available nationally by phone or video call without a GP referral.

Over six sessions, a qualified mental health coach with a small-business background will work with a participant to manage anxiety, depression, stress and overwhelm using straightforward problem- solving approaches. Beyond Blue’s Greg Jennings says more than 6000 small business owners across Australia have joined the program since it began in 2021, participating in almost 35,000 sessions.

'NASBO is a proven earlier intervention service that stops mental health issues from snowballing and provides people with practical support to manage their mental health and business stresses,’ he says. 'Ninety-two per cent of participants felt more equipped to address similar difficulties in the future if they arose, and 77 per cent of small business owners and sole traders experienced statistically significant improvement in their symptoms of depression and anxiety.’ 

Ninety-one per cent of participants agreed or strongly agreed that they feel more productive and able to address future business challenges. The program uses low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (LiCBT) that allows participants to recognise how they think, act and feel to break unhelpful thoughts before they become all-encompassing.

The goal is to identify the main problem and provide practical tools and strategies for everyday life. 

Mental health coach Mel Forster says: ‘We try to help work out what are the true drivers making them feel overwhelmed or anxious, then work on practical skills to help them manage stress and get them back to feeling like they are more in control.’

Health first

The HIACF has also made a sizable donation to the Tradie Health Institute for world-first research into the occupational respiratory disease, silicosis.

The donation supports the work of Professor Dan Chambers' team at The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane, which has received multiple awards for its Silicosis-Health Monitoring to Eliminate Lung Dust Diseases (SHIELDED) project.

The SHIELDED project focuses on developing advanced health monitoring tools and methodologies to better protect workers from these harmful conditions. This innovation is crucial in industries where workers are exposed to silica dust, as it helps in the early detection and prevention of lung diseases.

HIA National President Debbie Johnson met Professor Chambers at a recent awards event. Professor Chambers, whose research could provide a treatment for the disease, says it’s a race against the clock to help affected workers.

Foundation chair Pino Monaco says research into a hideous disease affecting so many in the building and construction industry is vital. ‘Any breakthrough will save lives.’

HIA Charitable Foundation (HIACF) proudly supports Beyond Blue. HIACF is committed to the wellbeing of members of the residential construction industry. To find out more or to make a donation visit HIACF.

First published 10 December 2024