KEITH MAKES A GREAT CONNECTION

Keith won the $500 Bunnings gift card for completing our Contact+Connect program. Incolink joined beyondblue in this pilot to see if getting support on their smartphone would benefit our members. Incolink offers personal counselling both over the phone and face to face. We have found that not everyone feels comfortable speaking to someone about personal issues, but by using the information Incolink sent to their smartphone, workers were able to find out more about mental health and access support if they needed it. Keith was among nearly 700 construction workers who took part in the program between in 2016 and up to the end of the program in March 2017. Workers who joined Incolink’s Contact+Connect program were sent an SMS each week for 6 weeks with links to videos, podcasts and a custom-built website where they could learn more about mental health and access support if they needed it.

Incolink’s Wellbeing & Support team reached out to those who needed it to offer counselling and support services, and workers also had access to Incolink’s Job Support employment service if they were looking for work. Overall, Contact+Connect was a successful program. Encouraging workers in the industry to think about their mental health – especially those who might not put time aside to do so – was an important part of the program’s success. This kind of program would be ideal for any regional member who might have not have access to support when doing it tough. Incolink is looking at rolling out similar programs to support our members across Victoria and Tasmania in the near future. If you feel like you need to talk to someone now call Incolink on 0419 568 605 to speak to a counsellor.

As for Keith, he plans to use his prize to build a new floating floor for his mum, so we reckon they are both winners! Contact+Connect was part of the nationwide STRIDE initiative sponsored by beyondblue with funding from the Movember Foundation and conducted in partnership with Melbourne University and Deakin University