As any of our long term supporters will know, Yellow’s origins were working within the Trades to support small business owners and their employees. Yellow still works closely with trades businesses so this is a topic very close to our heart.
A Stuff article published this weekend morning was an important reminder of how challenging it can be for owners of trades businesses and how access to a variety of supports is critical for mental wellbeing.
In Construction, the market is very volatile, with supply chain issues off the back of Covid 19 pushing up the cost of materials, a downturn in the market and chronic labour shortages causing extreme headaches for business owners and sole traders these days. For one in five tradies, one of the biggest challenges of the job is finding a way to cope with the mental health condition they will inevitably experience.
Mates in Construction is an organisation specifically designed to support the mental wellbeing for construction workers. One of their senior field officers, Raman Lee, spoke to Stuff in Feb 2022 where he said that “the construction industry faces particular challenges. A vastly male-dominated workforce, it struggled with issues around toxic masculinity and the preventive work of Mates had focused on educating people about why they need to take care of themselves. There was hesitancy to seek help, or even go to a doctor”. In just over a year, the statistics don’t paint a much better picture of the mental health struggles faced by many in this industry.
Mates is here to provide support and resources, whether for you or someone you know in the industry. As a business owner you are not only responsible for your staff wellbeing, but your own, and let’s be honest, it is tough. By connecting with organisations who can provide practical support and options for help, no one has to make their way through tough times alone.
The team at Yellow are always here to lend an ear, point you in the direction of other services you may need, or to provide practical help wherever we can.
Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa - Let us keep close together, not wide apart.
Disclaimer This article, and any information contained on our website is necessarily brief and general in nature, and should not be substituted for professional advice. You should always seek professional advice before taking any action in relation to the matters addressed.