Mental Health in the building industry

Can relate to it entirely, My brother was a plumber, and for years put a front on, masking the deep depression he was in, one day stopped going into work, went missing for days on end, sometimes weeks, wouldn't eat, started to drink heavily - got so bad his then wife left him, took the kids, (which rages me to this day, as to why she wouldn't help him or even try too, rather than give up on him, i tried to get him to see someone who could help, he lashed rings round him, this went on for about 4 months, until he was found hanging in the garage from the roof rafters, this was back in 2010,

#RIPbruv #alwaysinmythoughts

Bertie

 

I have mental health issues myself,but some of you guys know that already,I have a great many friends on other forums (electricians) and am amazed at what I've learned fairly recently.Now I'm not trying to make myself look big or clever,not since the last breakdown,lol. But I did work in a fairly pressurised environment,as did quite a few of my friends,now I've recently found out that about a dozen of my closest friends,scattered all over the country have either mental health issues,drink problems or in some cases both! The common thing seems to be the pressure of work,now I was always taught to be the best you can at whatever you do,sadly years later I'm realising this isn't always a good thing.I,ve worked alone and with others,and if you don't get the right work partner it can be a living hell.Lets say one man is given 8 hours to do a job solo,they put 2 men on it and give you 4 hours,fine,but what if the other guy is useless or lazy? this has happened to me a few times and you end up stressed because you have to do more work in less time,just to make up for his shortcomings.I have had this and it's gotten so bad that I've had to refuse to work with the person concerned.Unfortunately bosses never seem to see that not everyone is as conscientious as everyone else.

 

I do see people depressed when out, sometimes don't know what to say.

 

Couple of years ago i found myself becoming more and more detached from reality, mood swings, didn't like the people around me or the people i worked with, constantly spent long periods of time on my own thereafter at home and at work, got to the point i wouldn't leave the house for a while, i became a hermit, looked in the mirror one morning and just said "whats happening to me?" got dressed and headed straight to the GP who referred me to a specialist, who dug deep to find the root of my problems, i had been suffering from mild depression which was bringing on panic attacks and anxiety , i hadn't grieved for my brother, i sucked it all up, work pressures, debt was piling up, my mind and body was stressed and it all had come to a head.

Thankfully i didn't go down the route my brother or others had, when they get to the point of no return, i cut down my workload, started working with people who's company really enjoyed and started having a social life after work, spending more time with the wife and kids, and do not get too strung up about things and spent less time on my own which was a huge factor, i may have had a few problems, but their are people in this world with ten times more, i'm just glad i came through the other side and have not had a relapse since.

Bertie

 

If anyone ever gets depressed, try singing - works for me.

 

Clinical depression and "feeeling a bit depressed" are two very different things mate. I wouldn't wish proper depression on my worst enemy.

 

Mental health in general is still quite taboo, in the trades probably more so when we're in environments where everything's just banter. Then there's the stress of a lot of us being self employed and everything that comes with it.
I had a massive breakdown last year which led to a suicide attempt, a long stay as an in patient on a mental ward and me subsequently losing my house because of being out of work for so long, it wasn't just sudden, there were warning signs but I largely ignored them because it just doesn't get talked about. Things moved on and I got back into work and then things took a turn for the worse again and February this year I made another attempt.
There's multiple reasons for my depression and I also have bi-polar, my job isn't the cause of it as such but it certainly contributes to a lot of stress, I certainly don't dislike what I do, but I dislike the environments I'm often in doing it. I recently started work as a zoo keeper 5 days a week whilst running my business the other two and I have to say that my stress levels have massively decreased since this!
Don't be too much of a typical bloke and bottle stuff up, it ultimately ends up worse and puts you in real danger, talking about mental health as early as possible can really help to avoid having a bigger breakdown or attempting suicide further down the line, it isn't weak to admit you're feeling a certain way or to ask for help.

 

The type of environments and the people you work around does play an important part to your overall well being.

 

Everything we do all come from your head, so makes sense to look after this.

 

Thing is , with clinical depression, the person suffering from it, doesn't realise they are suffering until their diagnosed by a doctor.

 

I think people are good at disguising themselves, may appear happy, but sad underneath

Mind is too complex.

 

Looking at the Brexit thread. I reckon your right about the mental health of some of those joiners/ carpenters in the construction industry.

 

Shame on you John for such a frivolous post on what was a serious thread about a serious subject.
Why spoil your previous excellent post?