Mental health is a huge problem, with one in every five Australians experiencing mental illness. Statistics show around 3,000 deaths are caused by suicide … every year. That’s nearly 8 people every day. And construction workers are twice as likely to die by suicide.*
What better way of raising awareness of mental illness in the construction industry than getting a huge Hitachi ZX360 excavator and painting it the signature blue of a leading support group?
Major civil construction company Winslow Constructors has boldly done exactly that to help address worrying trends in mental illness seen in the construction industry generally. As part of the effort, Winslow also made a substantial donation to beyondblue.
Winslow and Magnum Opus Partners came together to create this exciting new initiative to address the stark fact that construction workers suffer higher rates of mental illness than other occupations in Australia.* To raise awareness of this important issue we decided to use a huge rugged object - a 36 tonne excavator - and paint it bright blue as a “conversation starter” and a beacon of hope to all people working in the industry.
We created a fully integrated campaign consisting of an online video, social, posters and wallet cards that were placed discreetly in Winslow toilets for staff that might want some information or support via beyondblue.
So, throughout 2018, and supported by beyondblue, Winslow are providing employees with greater access to resources, and improved support networks.
As ‘Big Blue’ makes its rounds to various Winslow projects around Victoria during the year, it will continue to keep mental health at the front of workers minds and encourage people to talk and reach out. That’s what Big Blue symbolises, because nothing, ultimately, is as important as the safety, health and the well-being of the workforce.
The campaign will run throughout the rest of the month across youtube and LinkedIn, and with a number of internal initiatives planned, through to World Mental Health Day on 10 October, 2018
Mental health professionals are available 24/7 at the beyondblue Support Service on 1300 22 4636. Web chat is also available at beyondblue.org.au/getsupport
* National Coronial Information System (NCIS)