Mental Health In The Building Industry

A lonely place, the old building industry. A lot of people don't realize the struggles and time and the effort that goes behind the scenes there that we all have to sort of deal with and don't give up on. It truly is so much more to life. There's always a good day on Horizon. We just got to keep looking forward to the positive things and stay positive.

Hey, guys, welcome to the Builder's Edge. I'm Norm Wales from Norm Wales Constructions. Now, for me, the whole purpose of this podcast here is to bring a little bit more awareness around the construction industry. I've been feeling for many, many years that there's not enough helpful information out there to support you guys to make the right choice. Now, we are a smaller family independent building company and we're not here to build everybody's home, but we would definitely love to be able to work with you to facilitate your dream home. But if we don't build your new home, we want you to be able to make the right decision in choosing the right builder for you. So hopefully the information that I'm able to provide through this podcast can be informative and helpful that you can now create your dream home. So I hope you enjoy and thanks for watching.

So, Norm, why is. Why do you believe mental health is important or mental health awareness important in the construction industry?

Look, mate, I big believer of mental health in general, but yeah, definitely in the construction sector there. It's, you know, it's a lonely place, the old building industry.

And you know, for us for a long time there now, you know, we got on board with the trademark sort of clothing range and bits and pieces there that my whole, whole team where we have the, the Funky Fridays, we like to sort of showcase that. And look, we like to have a bit of fun with it, but, you know, the, the mile behind, you know, our Funky Fridays and you know, we're under apparel, they're like, you know, it's supporting a fantastic cause. Like these guys here, you know, I won't go into exactly what they do, but like, you know, the what they give back and you know, what these guys are creating with TRAM up there, it's, you know, exceptional. You know, it's a fantastic thing. And you know, we're just sort of like to, you know, I guess piggyback on to a little bit of what they're doing to, you know, help, you know, know get a message out there that it's, it's okay to reach out. You know, there's always someone there to, to have a chat, you Know, it's like we've been doing this for many years there now. And, you know, you'd be surprised amount of people that have come up to me, all the conversations, you know, that this has started, you know, like, it's the backs of all these shirts. It sort of says it's a conversation starter, you know, and I specifically had a trade, you know, come up to me one time. And, you know, you always, They're a little bit, Larry, you know, they're a bit different. You know, they do stand out. So it does start a conversation. So I think the, the gods have done a great job in making that stand out. But, yeah, I did have this contractor come to me one day and asked, you know, what, what was I wearing and what was it all about? And, you know, we started getting a little bit deeper in a conversation, went deeper again. And yeah, you know, turned out that he wasn't in a good place, you know, and he actually, you know, we had a chat for a good half hour, 40 odd minutes, let's say, and he was a bit blown away that he'd sort of opened up that much to me, but he felt comfortable, felt like he's in a safe space there. And, you know, he thanked me, you know, for being that ear, you know, and I've done nothing, mate, I, I, you know, nothing at all. But just listened and communicated with a, you know, a great contractor. And, you know, for him, you know, that caught up with me, you know, several months again, later, just, you know, once again thanked me again for that chat. And he said it was just, you know, it's what he needed at that time, you know, so to, to be able to support anyone that's out there that's struggling or having a bad day, you know, or, you know, bad week, month there, like, it's, you know, a very small thing we can do, you know, to, to help, you know, like we've, you know, well, myself, you know, we've had friends struggle with mental health and tragically, you know, they decided to take matters into their own hands. And, you know, that's definitely a sad day for everybody, you know, and people don't realize that there's people out there that care. You know, we often get, can go into some dark places and, you know, we really want to make it very well known out there that there, there is always someone there that they can reach out to in the event that they, you know, need help or need an ear. So, yeah, it's, yeah, really, really important to myself and even, you know, all My team. And it's something that we'll continue to keep supporting and. And keep enjoying it too. You know, like, you know, enjoying our, you know, Funky Fridays and, you know, you know, I guess promoting that awareness a little bit further.

Do you find that even clients, even a perhaps surprised to see you guys, and not just you, the builder, but the rest of the team as well, wearing these shirts, showcasing that, you know, that awareness is important?

Yeah, look, it's. Look, it's always a good laugh, to be honest, you know, and, you know, a very serious, you know, topic. But it's great that everyone can sort of have that enjoyable aspect there to it. And it, you know, that it is a conversation that, you know, makes people start connecting. And I think that's the key point to it, that, that people can spark a conversation with a complete stranger or, you know, whoever it happens to be, and they feel comfortable talking to them about that. And our customers, you know, love the idea of, you know, what we're doing, who we're supporting, and, you know, it's, you know, looks a little bit different and, you know, adds a bit of fun around it.

Yeah, it's. It's such a beautiful thing that you guys are doing there. What, I mean, in the construction industry, what are perhaps more of the common struggles that you see that cause people to fall into these kind of pits mentally?

Yeah, look, like I said, the construction industry is, you know, a lonely place at times. And a lot of people don't realize the, you know, the struggles and the time and the effort that goes behind the scenes there that, you know, we all have to sort of deal with. And, you know, there's, you know, the customers, you know, in. In themselves, you know, they may be feeling the pressures and the pinch of that, you know, that, that build as well. So, you know, they also can be in bad places. So it's important that, you know, those communication lines are opened and everyone's been very transparent and, you know, they're able to communicate and talk through, you know, situations there.

What other support systems are there? I mean, there's. It's amazing. You guys are wearing these shirts. You guys are on site. But, for example, perhaps somebody listening to this, a contractor listening to this or a builder listening to this. They may not have anybody in their network who. Who kind of has this level of involvement in. In raising awareness to mental health.

What.

What can you share with them that would help them to go, okay, here's somewhere you can go to get some additional support?

Yeah, look, look, that's right. There's plenty of places out there. You know, we only have to Google them these days and plenty of stuff online. But look, it's normally best if you can sort of communicate there with someone close to you. Like, I know people find that hard to reach out to their mate or you know, friends and family sort of thing, but they've got to understand that they actually do care, don't have to be embarrassed to reach out.

What, what would, I mean, I personally hear that a lot, like it's okay to reach out.

Right?

So the thought that always comes next to that with me is, well, if it was that easy to reach out, why does, why, why doesn't everybody do it and why do we still have issues? So the, the what's really going on there is people aren't opening up. So what in from your experience and from your perspective, why do you think people find it hard to open up about things?

Look, people do struggle open up there and they don't know how to address it themselves. You know, sometimes these people have seen doctors and you know, other people that. But it is not quite getting them to the stage where they want to be. And that's where like, I guess, you know, these shirts and things like that, that says, you know, it's a conversation starter, that it just gets the ball rolling a little bit there. But you know, we have to be able to check in on our mates, our friends, their family, you know, are they doing okay? Ask the question and you know, the first time they might say, yeah, yeah, it's fine. But really keep pushing and, and pressing that idea with them asking like, are you really okay? You know, I mean, like, you know, really check in with them and it's important, I guess, you know, yes, we wear these things but it's good to be checking in with each other too. Like if you see someone having a rough day, it could be a complete stranger there, you know, I mean, you can tell by body language how people are feeling. Don't be scared to interact with someone there and ask them are they okay? You know, like it's the power in that in itself there, you know, have no idea. You know, it's a life. You could actually, you know, save one day mate.

All the respect to you for doing that. And even.

I'm assuming this sort of, you know, everything starts at the top. So this would have been your idea to implement that into the team and, and then also follow through with it and not have it as a one off thing, but make it a permanent thing and then also make it, you know, make it stick as well, because you got to implement it. And I'm sure you probably would have got some kickback as well initially. So good on you for doing that. Do you have any final bits of advice and you can even zoom out of the construction industry with. For people in general who may be struggling with mental health or somebody who may know somebody who's struggling but doesn't quite know how to approach them?

Yeah, look, it's always a challenging situation there. But, you know, the most important thing is that if you know someone that is struggling there, you know, be that ear for them, you know, encourage them to sort of reach out and get that help. Go with them, you know, be that support network with them there, you know, and if it's someone that's, you know, feeling there's no one out there, you know, there's plenty of, you know, hotline numbers and, you know, getting on the net there to have a chat there with some great organizations there, you know, like, the organization these guys have sort of set up themselves. But, you know, the. The biggest thing, you know, even if you're struggling with it yourself there, don't give up on it, you know, like. Like, there truly is so much more to life, and, you know, things are hard, but, like, as I say, how do you eat an elephant? It's bite at a time. Let's get through the hurdle there together. You know, just keep on chipping away at it. And, you know, there's always a good day on Horizon, you know, so you just got to keep looking forward to the positive things and, you know, stay positive.

Yeah, I love that. That's absolute gold. Well, before we wrap up this segment, I do have one more question for you from our get to know your builders jar. Okay, so I'll get you to pull out a question out of there. Hopefully, it's not the one you've done before.

Let's have a look.

Yes, it is. Oh, my gosh. Who's on question? Judy.

Try this. This is our last one. All right, now, this is interesting.

If you could have a dinner party with any three people, living or dead, who would you invite and why?

A dinner party with any three people.

Living or dead, who would you invite and why?

All right. I would have to say it was gonna be any three people there. It would be good to.

I guess, reunite or introduce.

My daughter and my wife to my father that had passed. Wow. So that would be very rewarding, I think, for them to see who he was. Wow.

I love that.

Something a little bit different anyway.

Well, as always, Norm, thanks so much for that. That's good.

Pleasure, mate.

Thank you.

Cheers, buddy.