00:00 Joel Anderson teaches tradies how to look after their mental health.
00:04 If you're feeling a bit of stress and you just want to have a chat to someone.
00:07 Support that's a far cry from his days on the job site a decade ago.
00:11 It was the have a cup of concrete, harden up mentality.
00:14 When things got tough and he burnt out, he self-medicated.
00:18 I ended up just resorting to drinking pretty much every weekend
00:22 to a level that wasn't healthy to cope with my stress.
00:24 He spiralled, started experiencing suicidal thoughts
00:27 and ultimately hit rock bottom.
00:29 I just felt shame, I felt fear, I didn't want anyone to judge me
00:33 because I'd come across as being weak.
00:35 He eventually turned to his employee assistance program for help.
00:38 It took me three months to get the courage to pick up the phone
00:41 and call the hotline number to seek help.
00:43 But Mr Anderson couldn't connect with the counsellor he spoke to.
00:46 That resulted in me not going back and seeing a counsellor again for 12 months.
00:50 Now in a better headspace, he's trying to stop others from ending up
00:53 in the same situation he did.
00:55 Through his mental health platform 4Mind,
00:57 which links workers to counsellors who have experience in construction themselves
01:01 and provides preventative support like lived experience videos and questionnaires.
01:05 Given construction workers are six times more likely to die by suicide
01:09 than from an accident at work, it's an important mission.
01:12 It doesn't have to be when you're at that crisis point that you go and seek help.
01:16 4Mind is now in use at large construction companies,
01:19 who say they face unique challenges.
01:21 Working in isolation, working long hours,
01:24 the expectations and demands of undertaking high-risk activities
01:28 does take a toll on our workers.
01:30 And all workers deserve to feel safe.
01:32 That includes physical and mental health.
01:34 Mr Anderson has just picked up support and funding via a philanthropic fellowship
01:38 and is planning his next move.
01:40 It's all about supporting inspiring entrepreneurs.
01:44 Trying to construct a more resilient workforce.
01:47 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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