Band of Builders launches text service for mental health campaign

A dedicated text service has been launched by national charity Band of Builders as part of a campaign to get tradespeople to open up about their mental health over a cuppa.

The service coincides with the return of “the Big Brew,” a campaign led by the charity to shine a spotlight on the mental health crisis in construction, where two people are thought to take their own lives every day.

Launched last year and returning in October, the campaign aims to encourage more tradespeople and contractors to “come together over a cuppa” as the first step in seeking help with a range of issues from general anxiety to suicidal thoughts.

More than 250 events are expected to take place in builders’ merchants and on construction sites throughout the campaign.

To build on last year’s, the charity has launched a text line so that tradespeople, contractors and their families struggling to open up in person can text BOB to 85258 at any time to get much-needed help.

Also introduced for this year is the Big Brew tea scale (an image of different strengths of cups of tea), designed to act as an icebreaker to start conversations where tradespeople can ask one another where they rank on the scale.

The campaign is sponsored by Big Red Construction, and aims to build on last year’s inaugural event, which saw more than 175 events held and enough money raised to fund a free construction industry-only counselling service for two years.

Peter Cape, the Big Brew lead at Band of Builders, said: “The first ever Big Brew highlighted just how much the construction industry was crying out for something that gave tradespeople and contractors the outlet to get together over a cuppa and discuss the wider issue of mental health and wellbeing – and open up individually to workmates or even staff at their local builders’ merchants.”

Mike Lomas, managing director of Big Red Industries, said: “Through partnering with Band of Builders on this remarkable campaign, we hope not only to increase awareness of the mental health support services that are available but also to encourage other construction companies to join us in being part of the change. Big Red, big change.”

There’s still time to register interest in hosting a Big Brew event at the Band of Builders website, and you can join in the conversation online by using the hashtag #GiveYourselfABreak.
www.bandofbuilders.org