Mental health platform Foremind is focused on giving support to blue-collar workersMr Anderson hopes Foremind will help break down that stigma around mental health in the construction industry
"I was experiencing burnout. Instead of going and having a productive conversation with a counsellor, I ended up just resorting to drinking pretty much every weekend to a level that wasn't healthy to cope with stress," he said.Eventually, those dark thoughts turned suicidal, and Mr Anderson recalls feeling ashamed and embarrassed of anyone finding out how he was feeling.
For example, men may feel more comfortable speaking side-by-side rather than face-to-face and they may want to see what a counsellor looks like before the first session so they can establish a strong connection, Mr Anderson noted."The main thing that we focus on is breaking down the glass wall," Mr Anderson said.
"Working in isolation, working long hours and the expectation to undertake high-risk work, it all takes a toll," he said.But he noted stressors from family, home life, relationship breakdowns, fatigue and the cost of living also impacted workers.