International Men's Day: Support Your Mates
There is no doubt that open conversations around mental health are more widely supported now, both at work and in our communities, than they were 10 years ago.
While we still have a way to go, our openness towards the challenges we or our mates may be facing has vastly improved. Ultimately, stigma reduction is driven by people and companies who are motivated to support workers in all aspects of safety – including mental health.
Mental Health Training is WHS Training
Mental health issues are work health and safety issues. A worker who may be in mental and emotional distress may find it difficult to do their work properly, which can then lead to risks and hazards in the workplace. This is why MATES in Construction has always been an advocate of mental health training as essential WHS training in the workplace.
Since MATES started in 2008, the organisation has made it its focus to provide training around reaching out to your mates when you think they need help or putting your hand up yourself when you think you are not okay. Reaching out and connecting to the proper resources – these are crucial when dealing with mental health issues.
MATES General Awareness Training (GAT) is the first step in building a better understanding of how to recognise and what to do when your coworker, friend, or family member might not be in a great space. MATES can come to your workplace to deliver this training to your staff so that your whole team may be better equipped to spot and handle mental health concerns.
Becoming a Connector
A level up to this general training is the Connector training. Many tradespeople find that after taking the GAT, they are compelled to undergo additional training to be able to help out their peers better. Think of it as necessary First Aid training, where you can learn how to respond when a colleague is in need of support.
Rhys from Tacoma Plumbing in North Queensland has been in the industry for 15 years and has worked on a number of projects around the country. He believes in the importance of conversations around mental health.
“I started my plumbing apprenticeship in 2008 and have since worked on many projects: fly-in fly-out jobs like the Olympic dam mine upgrade in South Australia, Cavil Ridge mine in Queensland, and many inner city Brisbane jobs such as the Queens Wharf. During my time on construction sites, I have had the pleasure of communicating with my mates, lending support when they come to me, and giving helpful talks on site. I’ve done my initial MATES training and am currently enrolled to partake in my Connectors course later this year,” said Rhys.
MATES Connector Training is a four-hour training session that delves deeper into understanding the signs when a mate might not be in the best place, how to safely and effectively have a conversation with them, and how to connect them to the right resources for additional help.
A Connector is not a counsellor or any other kind of professional; they are simply a mate who knows how to help. Most people participating in Connector training have naturally been in the role without even knowing it. The Connector training also provides extra skills for people to handle suicidal thoughts and then facilitate the link to help.
“I unfortunately know many men who suffer from mental fatigue and depression due to stresses at home, especially over Christmas and Easter. Generally, I find it’s due to money or not being able to spend time with their kids if they have been divorced, so it’s great that organisations such as MATES and D.A.D.S are around supporting men through these tough times,” said Rhys.
“We all spend the majority of our time with our work comrades and I feel it should be up to each of us, if we see them with their head down, to try and have a conversation with them and let them know that they’re not alone. I feel moving forward that we need to be able to open up to each other even while on the tools so that you don’t bottle it up and snap. It takes two minutes to lend a sympathetic ear and a slap on the back – and that could be the difference between a bad day and a good day,” added Rhys.
For more information on training and support options available from MATES, visit www.mates.org.au. Remember, if you or your mate is in a rough spot, reach out to the MATES 24/7 hotline on 1300 642 111.
Article written by MATES in Construction