TradeMutt: Starting the Mental Health Conversation
Recent research by MATES in Construction and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) shows that construction and demolition workers are more than twice as likely to die by suicide as other people in Australia and six times more likely to die by suicide than through a workplace accident. These rates are even higher amongst apprentices and younger workers.
However, mental health is often considered somewhat of a taboo topic in workplaces and seems to be particularly stigmatised in the construction and demolition industries due to the workplace culture.
TradeMutt
Starting a conversation around mental health is the first important step to addressing this issue and changing workplace culture from the inside out. Simply ‘putting it out there’ and discussing past experiences and industry statistics can go a long way to reducing mental health conditions, by creating a space where people feel allowed to share their experiences.
TradeMutt is a social enterprise dedicated to starting a conversation around workplace mental health and wellbeing. TradeMutt was founded by two mates in the Australian construction industry. Tragically losing one of their best mates to suicide was a life-changing event for them. After that experience, they decided to dedicate their time to creating TradeMutt.
Image credit: TradeMutt
“An Australian Workwear brand that aims to make tradies and workers of all kinds look and feel great at work, and in doing so, reduce the rate of male suicide in Australia.”
They do this by creating loud and vibrant shirts that stand out in a crowd and draw attention. They are meant to act as a catalyst to starting conversations around the topic of mental health and in turn, bring the topic out into the open.
Major Projects Group is embracing an open workplace culture
Major Projects Group is proud to support this important initiative and start the conversation around mental health and wellbeing with our employees and subcontractors.
“The important thing is to talk about it, ask your mates, brothers, your neighbours and your workmates ‘Are you Ok? Do you need to talk? Can I help you?’ Or even let them know that you are happy to listen to them whenever they need to chat. Just being there is a start, please join us in starting these conversations”.
Mental health initiatives like TradeMutt, RUOK and Safe Work NSW are bringing this topic out into the open and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and wellbeing in the construction and demolition industry. Together, we can change the culture of our industry.
You can find out more about TradeMutt on their website: trademutt.com.au/
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