Mental Health Coordinating Council is proud to launch Learning from each other, a new member highlight series that showcases the incredible work of our members, supporting collaboration and sharing resources to strengthen our sector.

The Construction Industry Drug and Alcohol Foundation supports people working in the construction industry across New South Wales through FOUNDOBLUE, its mental health and suicide prevention program, and Foundation House, its residential rehabilitation service.

The organisation’s work is much needed, as recent Australian research found that, despite improvements, suicide rates among men in construction remain almost twice as high as those among other employed men. Long working hours, job insecurity and substance use can contribute to psychological distress, while deeply ingrained attitudes around toughness, resilience and maintaining a stoic front can discourage help-seeking.

Taking support directly to workers

Developed in 2020 in response to industry feedback, FOUNDOBLUE provides free, confidential counselling to construction workers and their immediate families, available face-to-face in Lilyfield and Sydney or by video and phone.

Advice from the team: “Focus on building trust before expecting disclosure or engagement. Consistent presence, genuine conversations, and culturally safe, non-judgemental support are often more effective than formal interventions alone.”

Trust, especially in the construction community, is cemented by a warm handshake and an in-person conversation. FOUNDOBLUE therefore offers ‘toolbox talks’ held directly on worksites. Workers can meet the team before they need support, while learning about mental health, substance use and gambling, and suicide awareness and prevention.

The team also works with interpreters when needed so workers who do not speak English as their first language can take part and understand the information.

Jessica Taylor, FoundoBlue Program Supervisor and Psychotherapist, providing support on site in Meadowbank, NSW.

Responding after crisis

FOUNDOBLUE also provides critical incident response following serious workplace accidents, deaths, suicides or severe mental health crises. Two counsellors can be deployed to a worksite to provide immediate mental health support and guidance on crisis management, including group and individual counselling.

The team follows up with affected workers over the following weeks, including a return visit to the worksite around 10 days after the incident, and can also support workers’ families.

Supporting recovery in construction and beyond

Foundation House provides a structured 28-day residential rehabilitation program for adults experiencing alcohol, drug or gambling dependency.

The abstinence-based program combines individual counselling, group therapy, case management, peer support and life-skills training, with treatment tailored to each person’s needs. Where needed, the team can also connect clients with health and mental health services.

Support can continue after the residential program through relapse prevention groups, peer support and family support.

Watch Ben’s story to hear about a personal experience of receiving support at Foundation House.

Developing training for the industry

Training is an important part of The Construction Industry Drug and Alcohol Foundation’s approach. The team is preparing to launch a bespoke one-day FOUNDOBLUE training program co-designed with construction workers, industry stakeholders and people with lived experience of mental health challenges, alcohol and other drugs use, gambling and suicide.

The research and training development has been endorsed by the Centre for Male Health at Western Sydney University. The team has also recently conducted research into gambling in the NSW construction industry in partnership with The Insight Centre.

Collaboration opportunities

The Construction Industry Drug and Alcohol Foundation would like to strengthen connections with other mental health organisations, particularly to improve referral pathways for psychiatric and other specialist supports beyond its scope.

The team is also interested in sharing knowledge and expertise around:

• critical incident response
• suicide awareness and prevention
• outreach support and engagement with diverse communities
• reducing siloed ways of working across the sector

Members interested in connecting with the Construction Industry Drug and Alcohol Foundation, discussing referral pathways or sharing expertise in these areas are encouraged to get in touch with the team.