Do you find it hard to talk to your mates and open up about your struggles?
Are you worried that you will be judged if you do?
Have you been told to toughen up if you talk about your difficulties?
Are you withdrawing, and keeping to yourself more than usual?
Are you finding that you are being more negative and have to put on a mask around others?
As a Tradesperson or Construction worker, you may find it difficult to talk about your struggles and concerns with your colleagues. You may worry about being judged or seen as weak if you talk about emotions or problems and told “to grow some” if you open up. But the reality is that mental health issues are common in the Trades and Construction Industry and ignoring them or trying to tough them out can have serious consequences.
According to the research, male Construction Workers in Australia report higher rates of mental health conditions (Depression and Anxiety) than the general population. Male construction workers are also twice as likely to commit suicide than males in other industries, with the alarming figure of 190 Construction Workers taking their own life each year, that is one every second day. Female construction workers are also at higher risk, with a suicide rate that is twice that of female workers in other industries.
Tradies and Construction Workers have been in hot demand during and post the COVID-19 pandemic and were often overworked, which impacted their own psychological well-being as well as their relationships.
Characteristics inherent in the Construction and Trade Industries that can contribute to the high levels of psychological distress include:
Stigma
- The stress associated with the stigma of getting help for psychological distress
- Concerns that attempts to get help will be disregarded or ridiculed
- The culture of self-reliance and toughness
- Worry that asking for help will affect employability, promotion potential and even replacement
Work Life
- Insecure work with periods of unemployment
- Working in harsh weather conditions
- Physically demanding work
- Underemployment
- Long hours – early mornings starts and often late finishes
- Poor work-life balance
- Little control over your work
- Lots of travel
- Often working away from family and support
Some of the difficulties that you may be experiencing may include:
- Feeling easily frustrated, short-tempered, emotional and maybe even becoming combative and aggressive
- Not looking after yourself – your physical health and general wellbeing
- Difficulty focusing and finding your thoughts are scattered
- Fatigue
- Burnout
- Immersing yourself in work to cope
- Feeling flat, miserable, and worthless
- Not performing to the level you usually do and taking days off
- Lack of interest, pleasure or energy for activities you usually find enjoyable.
- Hitting the booze (or drugs) more
- Feeling worthless
- Thoughts that you have ‘had enough’ or are just ‘over it’
- Believing you can’t fix your problems
- Poor sleep
- Suicidal ideation, behaviours or attempts
How Telehealth Psychology Services can help you
It’s important to recognise that these issues are real and that by taking care of your mental health, you can continue to be a reliable and valued member of your work team, as well as involved in and present in your personal relationships and social life.
Our Mental Health Practitioners can help you negotiate these challenges and assist you to improve your mental health and overall quality of life. If you are struggling, feeling overwhelmed or concerned about difficulties in your life, our Mental Health Practitioners can help you get over the speedbumps and navigate the road ahead.
We also work with your strengths, abilities, and capabilities which can sometimes be buried under the overwhelm.
We offer a team of mental health practitioners who can work collaboratively with you to support your lifestyle, whilst maintaining healthy intimate and family relationships.
We can also explore any individual issues that you might be experiencing whether or not they are related to your work.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can support you.
Telehealth Psychology Services are accessible and convenient
As well as the benefits of accessibility, convenience and feeling safe in connecting with one of our Practitioners, Telehealth counselling and therapy sessions can help overcome some of the difficulties that may be a barrier for you seeking help. These barriers may include taking that first step to make an appointment, which can be daunting and anxiety provoking or being up against time pressures in just getting to schedule in an appointment.
With our Telehealth sessions, you can have your session in your own comfortable, safe space rather than facing the hassle of getting to a busy clinic. So, with the convenience and accessibility of a Telehealth appointment, it can be easier to fit therapy sessions into your busy schedule whatever your location.
Contact us today to learn more about how Telehealth Psychology Services can help you.
Lets get you started
How to book a session
Have a look at our practitioners and choose who will best relate to your needs, otherwise check the appointment times available that suits your schedule