Improving mental health on construction sites

A new mental health partnership has been forged between the Black Dog Institute and Target Tradies.

It will take advantage of Target Tradies’ access to construction sites and the Black Dog Institute’s research into mental health to roll out positive mental health messaging across Australian construction sites.

Research has shown that, compared to other industries, those in construction are at a higher risk of experiencing mental health problems.

Under the partnership, a series of creative posters will give construction workers pragmatic, useful and relevant tips on how to support mental health. The aim is to help make thinking about mental health as normal as thinking about physical health and safety on-site.

The posters also ask readers to “mind your mates”, in a bid to reduce stigma and to get readers to support their colleagues' mental health, as well as their own.

“We know that people in the construction industry have a strong culture of safety, and looking out for their mates,” said Black Dog Institute research fellow Dr Mark Deady.

“We wanted to extend that way of thinking to mental health — knowing what the danger signs are, and either being there to help out a mate or knowing where to seek help for yourself.”

The posters are bold and attract attention, using a play on words like “stressed and can’t nail it?” to make the signs and symptoms of mental illness relatable and quickly understood.

Target Tradies founder Michael Blumberg said he and the company are excited to share the engaging messages across their construction sites.

“As a company, we are committed to improving awareness of physical and mental wellbeing of workers on-site. We hope that through campaigns like this, more in the industry will see how we can improve on-site safety and come on board with this great initiative,” he said.

“We have backed this with support and sponsorship of The Black Dog Institute since the beginning of 2018.

“Our media is uniquely placed within the construction sites, specifically in dwell spaces. Here tradies have the opportunity to read messages and hopefully act on them.”

The new campaign is set to roll out later this month.

Construction companies who would like to get involved and support the initiative can enquire at www.targettradies.com.au.

Image courtesy of Target Tradies.