Partnering with Planet Plumbing to support the mental health of their workforce

In Australia construction workers are 84% more likely to take their own lives compared to other industries.

Since 2018 we’ve seen a significant number of employers bringing the award winning Bluehats program to site, supporting over 7,000 workers.

One such employer has been Planet Plumbing. After seeing the value it brought to their workforce, they wanted to find a way to further the impact through research.

We recently partnered with Planet Plumbing and Monash University to conduct a study of the program and measure its success.

Speaking about the partnership, Incolink CEO Erik Locke said “Bluehats are saving lives, and as attitudes change throughout the industry, we’re delighted to see employers like Planet Plumbing investing in supporting their workforce. By giving their workers tools to support not only their own mental health but that of those around them, they are making an instrumental difference within the industry.”

How the project will work

Step one – Initial data collection

At a recent toolbox Planet Plumbing workers completed a voluntary and confidential survey to get an understanding of their knowledge and perceptions of mental health and suicide.

This information was collected by Monash University and will be used to form the baseline.

Step two – General awareness session

Workers will attend a Suicide Prevention General Awareness session where an Incolink Mental Health Educator will deliver a one-hour general information session about mental health and suicide.

Workers will walk away with an understanding of the risks, signs to look out for and how everyone can look out for themselves and others.

Step three – Bluehats full day training

An Incolink Mental Health Educator speaks with, and onboards all workers who have expressed interest in becoming a Bluehat. They will then be booked in to attend a full day training session at the Incolink office.

They will leave the session equipped with new skills to identify challenges and support those around them that might be doing it tough. Whilst also having the tools to support and look after themselves.

Step four – Secondary survey

Following the general awareness session and full day training a follow-up survey will be done with the same group of workers to determine if and how perceptions have changed, and matched against the initial survey undertaken.

Speaking about the partnership and why it’s important to their workforce, Planet Plumbing CEO Anthony Alafaci said “At Planet Plumbing, we believe that mental health is just as vital as physical health. By supporting the Bluehats Campaign, we are committed to enhancing the mental well-being of our team members.”

“This campaign provides valuable resources and education, helping to break the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Our investment in this initiative underscores our care for our team's overall health and happiness, promoting a supportive and inclusive workplace environment.”

As an advocate for the program and a Bluehat himself, Planet Plumbing HSEQ Manager Michael Grisinski knows the value of quality mental health education and support for the workforce.

Speaking of the partnership he said “I am proud of Planet Plumbing, Incolink & Monash University in making this project come together, the collaborative effort is a reflection of everyone’s commitment to paving a pathway for the welfare of our most valuable assets, ‘our employees’”.

Over the coming months we’ll be sharing updates and results from the study and along with Planet Plumbing we hope to see increased awareness and understanding of mental health leading to early intervention and better outcomes for their workforce.

You can find out more about the Bluehats program here: https://incolink.org.au/wellbeing-support-services/bluehats

We’d like to thank our partners CBUS Super and Worksafe Victoria for continuing to support the Bluehats program.