Tradie National Health Month: Let’s Wear the Conversation

August is Tradie National Health Month which focuses on raise awareness on the physical and mental health risks of Tradies.

At SafeStyle we’ve teamed up with Lifeline under the tagline “Wear the Conversation” to help remove the stigma around mental health on site and help raise awareness about the support networks, like Lifeline, that are out there for people who are struggling or in crisis.

Why are we focusing on Mental health for Tradie National Health Month?

Did you Know?

• Every 24 seconds, someone in Australia reaches out to Lifeline for support via their phone, text or chat services

• 9 Australians die every day by suicide. That’s more than double the road toll

• Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians between the ages of 15 and 44

• 75% of those that take their own life are male

• Men working in construction are twice as likely to take their own life

• It is estimated that every second day a construction worker dies by suicide

• This year Lifeline have also developed a special Tradie Support Guide

• They also have some new episodes coming out on their podcast Holding onto Hope (which is raw and real if you haven’t listened to it!)

What is "Wear the Conversation"?

“Wear the Conversation” is more than a tagline - it’s a call to action.

By wearing blue, like our blue frame safety glasses, tradies show their support and openness to mental health conversations. Let’s start breaking the stigma.

Mental Health isn’t always easy to talk about, especially on site. So, sometimes all it takes is a visual cue like our bold pair of blue frames, to remind people help is out there.

Wear the Conversation is a conversation starter. We want to help you check in with your mates, prompt you to ask how someone’s really doing, allow you to share your own struggles or at the least, show your support and donate much needed funds directly to Lifeline.

Why Mental Health Matters

The negative stigma of taking about mental health on site is real. Work can be hard. There’s long hours, inevitable physical risks and a culture of “just get it done”. This builds mental, emotional and physical pressure that takes its toll on Tradies.

When this happens, people need to know that they aren’t alone. They might just need a reminder that there’s help out there.

This is why we’re encouraging Tradies to Wear the Conversation.

What do Lifeline Do?

Lifeline is Australia's leading suicide prevention service, formed through a partnership between 10,000 committed volunteers, their member centres, of which there are 41 located in communities around the nation and Lifeline Australia.

They provide the crucial moments of connection that bring hope and save lives.  They’re united in our vision to achieve an Australia free of suicide and our determination to ensure that no person has to face their darkest moments alone.

Just read this hard-hitting, real life example…

"Thank you Lady...whoever you are...you have no idea how much your voice, and words, and strength to keep me going helped last night. With everything in my heart...Thank you!!! My husband thanks you, and my children, and grandchildren thank you!!!!" - Feedback from a person who called Lifeline.

Lifeline operate the 24/7 crisis support line in Australia.

Lifeline Australia's impact highlights from the 2023-24 Financial Year

How to Get Involved

• Wear the Conversation - Grab a pair of our Blue frames for work and automatically go in the draw to win some epic prizes!

• Be open and start a chat – See a mate wearing blue? Ask them how they’re doing.

• Support your staff – If you’re an employer, use these glasses as a way to broach the topic and check in with your team. Let them know you’re getting behind the initiative

• Share the message – post a pic, tag crew, and use #WearTheConversation to show your support to people struggling day in day out with mental health

Beyond SafeStyle's Blue Glasses

This isn’t just a one-off campaign. We’re highlighting the issue during Tradie National Health Month, but we’ll continue to support Lifeline and continue to encourage people to speak up and support their mates all year round.

Our goal is to help support work cultures that value safety ‘from the worksite to the weekend’ and not just for your eyes. It’s applicable for burnout, anxiety, and isolation as well.

Let’s make every site a safe place, whether ya grinding steel or laying bricks. Remember: you don’t have to do it alone.

Let’s shift the focus and make it easy for our mates to speak up!

Wear the Conversation and Break the Stigma.

Would you be comfortable sharing a story? Get in touch.