When toughness and resilience are often equated with success, it's not easy to open up and be honest about what we’re struggling with. The construction industry is demanding and high stress, which makes it a breeding ground for mental health challenges that all too often get swept under the rug.  

Today we are talking about our experience with mental health struggles and how we manage it in our work. Hamish especially has a history of battling anxiety, including a difficult time earlier this year.

Identifying Triggers: Hamish shares the things that trigger his anxiety to get worse, like money stress or juggling too many projects at once. These stressors can send him into a spiral of negative thought patterns that will get worse and worse if not addressed. He shares what he does when he notices things are getting bad. His number one tip is to have an open conversation about how you’re feeling. This can be with a mental health professional, but it could also be with your mates!

The Power of Acceptance: Through the episode, we touch on some of the pivotal moments in Hamish’s life, including his decision to seek professional help and the realisation that managing mental health is an ongoing process rather than a one-time fix. Accepting these struggles as something he needs to manage has made it easier to keep them in check. It gave him permission to prioritise self-care and attend therapy regularly.

Busting Stigmas: In “blokey” industries like construction, mental health has often been ignored or even mocked. People were often told to suck it up or act like a man and weren’t given the support they needed. Thankfully, things are improving; and while there’s still a long way to go there is a lot more support these days. Each of us can contribute to building a better environment for mental health by being honest about our own experiences.

 Mental health awareness is so important, and it’s one of the main reasons we started this podcast. We hope this episode will encourage you to pay more attention to your mental well-being and reach out for help if you need it.

Until next time take care and remember, true strength comes from being vulnerable!

LINKS:

Connect with Us: 

Sanctum Homes:   www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Carland Constructions:  www.carlandconstructions.com/