Building and construction workers are reporting mental health issues in high numbers, but some are trying to make a difference
Like many people in construction, James Knight is feeling the pressure his industry is under.
In recent times, his Canberra electrical business has been left unpaid for work due to other construction companies collapsing.
"It's affected my kids seeing my wife and I stressed about it," Mr Knight said.
"It's affected our employees with the uncertainty and just having to go by our word that that we'll pull through and we'll be okay."
Mental health challenges among tradies have been common for years, if not always talked about.
James Knight said problems in the construction industry have impacted his electrical business and his own mental health.(ABC News: Mark Moore)
The charity MATES in Construction estimates someone from the industry is lost to suicide every two days.
High interest rates, increased costs and a shortage of labour and materials are now adding an extra mental burden.
Mr Knight lives with depression and anxiety, and said the issues the industry is facing have not helped.
"I notice I'm not running at optimum performance, mentally speaking," he said.
"The guys notice it and notice the self-esteem is not always there.
"I've actually been diagnosed with ADHD, which lends itself to [depression and anxiety]"
James Knight said the wellbeing of his staff is a top priority for the business.(ABC News: Mark Moore)
But his experiences have prompted Mr Knight to take action to prevent others going through the same thing.
He and his wife Nikki run their business a little differently.
They reimburse staff for health-related costs such as gym memberships and supplements to help them maintain positive mental health.
He said he also encouraged his staff to be open about their problems.
"Their general health is very important to us, both mental and physical," Mr Knight said.
"My wife Nikki and I have got an open-door policy. We've definitely had a range of different things brought to us and some surprising, some straight down what we were expecting.
"But I think holistically, everyone is in a lot better place for it."
Industry wide problemsResearch conducted by Central Queensland University indicates people who work in the building and construction industry are at a significantly higher risk of mental health problems.
MATES in Construction chief executive Chris Lockwood said it was a combination of long hours and work that could be both dangerous and lonely.
"That's why we do see significantly higher rates of poor mental health and tragically, even suicide in the industry," Mr Lockwood said.
The cost-of-living crisis overlaid on the current problems in the industry has compounded those dangers.
"Those sorts of pressures in terms of the finances that already were an issue for people working construction," Mr Lockwood said.
"[With] the cost of living, the impacts on top of it, we've seen some very direct impacts.
"Some months our call volumes have almost more than doubled, [from] people that are actually calling in distress needing support."
Like a lot of male-dominated industries, Mr Knight said in decades past there has been a culture of silence when it comes to mental health.
He said things had changed in the industry.
"[It used to be] just go to the pub and write yourself off," he said.
"I think it's a lot easier these days, there's a lot more education around the mental health space and it being okay to not be okay."
Across the industry, mental health charities are improving mental health culture one job site at a time.
Canberra's The Healthy Tradie Project speaks to workers on site about mental health, incorporating breath work and yoga into their outreach.
Tradies are encouraged to do yoga and breathwork by a charity working to improve mental health.(Supplied: The Healthy Tradie Project)
OzHelp has been helping people in blue collar "high risk and hard to reach" jobs for 20 years.
David Lockwood said the mental health outreach sessions that MATES in Construction have on-site can save lives.
"The blokes and the women are all comfortable to step forward and actually say 'we should look out for our mates and have those honest conversations'."
Source: ABC News
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