Tradie Mental Health
We are over halfway through Tradies National Health Month, and there is one aspect of health that is impossible to ignore when taking a holistic approach. Mental health is one of the biggest killers in young Australian men and even more so among tradies.
Tradespeople are 3 times more likely than the male public to take their own lives. The combination of living in a patriarchy and being employed in a physically demanding job exacerbates the notion that men shouldn’t show weakness.
But it isn’t just male tradies that feel the strain on their mental health. With females making up just 2% of tradies in NSW, their mental health is also at an increased risk from working in a male-dominated industry.
Sharing the load is important for your physical health, but it can be applied to mental health too. It can be tough to know where to begin, so here are some tip on boosting mental health on-site.
Destigmatize mental health
Talking about mental health doesn’t always have to mean opening up about a problem. Normalisation starts when something becomes an ordinary part of life, not when it is viewed as a crisis.
Asking workmates how they really are and being open and honest about your own mental health – the good and the bad – is a fantastic way to make them feel comfortable doing so too.
If you work in a leadership role, it is up to you to promote wellness from every angle. Lead by example by casually mentioning how you feel in the same way that you might talk about a sore back or headache.
Make mindfulness mandatory
Before you roll your eyes and imagine a drum circle and crystal deodorant, mindfulness is easier than you think. Daily mindfulness meditations are extremely beneficial, and you can simply call them breathing sessions to reduce apprehension.
Being mindful is the simple act of giving your sole focus to the task at hand. You probably already do it every day while you’re working on a difficult part of your job, so it shouldn’t be too hard to extend mindfulness to your social time too.
Mindfulness decreases stress levels while increasing concentration, memory and creativity. It can also reduce suicidal ideation and other mental health conditions, so it is a fantastic tool to encourage in your workplace.
Encourage your employees and colleagues to eat mindfully, talk to each other mindfully and work mindfully. As well as improving your mental health, mindfulness encourages a sense of confidence and enhances relationships, which is beneficial for the productivity of your team.
Encourage on-site mindfulness by providing proper breaks and breathing or meditation sessions. You can also encourage active listening.
Connect mental and physical health
We have already highlighted the importance of exercise for keeping healthy physically, but it isn’t just your physical health that can benefit from keeping active.
Exercise has been proven unquestionably to have a positive impact on mental health. It stimulates endorphin production, raises self-confidence and enhances our brain’s function. Keeping active is one of the best ways to keep healthy as a tradie both inside and out.
Group exercise sessions might seem a little far-fetched, but even just weekly footy practise outside of work can enhance the overall wellbeing of your team.
The benefits of exercise on mental health include confidence, endorphins, creativity, happiness and teamwork.
Keep tradies healthy and happy on-site and beyond
The best way to improve mental health is to have clear options for those that need it. Make the treatments for depression readily available to those that need them and normalise accessing all mental health services when needed.
The more we open up to each other, the easier it becomes, so take that first uncomfortable step for normalising mental health awareness and the rest of the site will slowly follow.
If you struggle with your own mental health and are not sure where to look, your doctor can point you in the right direction. All you need to do is talk to get started feeling better!
Felicity Thompson
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