Steel Blue celebrates success of the 10-year partnership with Beyond Blue

Steel Blue and Beyond Blue have been helping boot the blues to support tradies mental wellbeing on and offsite through the blue boots initiative, raising over $450,000.

Over the 10-year partnership, funds raised through the initiative have enable 8,750 people to receive support through Beyond Blue 24/7 Support Service.

Looking after tradie physical and mental wellbeing is core to Steel Blue’s In Our Stride CSR initiative. To further support tradie wellbeing, Steel Blue conducts an annual tradie survey, in conjunction with Beyond Blue and the Australian Physiotherapy Association.

“Through the Steel Blue Boot the Blues tradie survey, we found that 1 in 5 tradies wouldn’t tell anyone if they had depression. We are also seeing the negative impact the labour shortage is having on tradies mental health,” said Georgie Harman, CEO Beyond Blue.

“The results show us how important the blue boots initiative is, to get tradies talking about their mental wellbeing or to encourage them to check-in on a mate. We want people to know there is support there for them, and initiatives like this encourage tradies to seek help when they start to feel flat, overwhelmed, or are stressed, by talking to Beyond Blue, their GP, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and other support services,” Ms Harman said.

Concerningly, the majority of respondents did not know of or didn’t have workplace programs for physical wellbeing.

“The partnership is more than a donation, it is part of Steel Blue’s DNA,” said Peter Bell, CEO Steel Blue.

“The iconic blue boots help start a conversation on site and we believe over the last 10 years, we estimate that over 1 million conversations and check-ins on a mate have started at various workplaces throughout Australia to proactively address mental health issues.”

Steel Blue Boot the Blues Survey Key Findings 

• A fifth of respondents said they would not tell anyone if they had depression.
• 35% agreed or strongly agreed that most people would not employ someone they knew had been depressed, however only around 5% of respondents said that they would not hire someone they knew had been depressed.
• 1 in 2 respondents said that skills shortages had impacted their mental wellbeing.
• A majority of respondents did not know or said ‘none’ for programs their workplace has implemented for physical wellbeing.
• The most common source of support for respondents is a family member or friend and their GP is the most accessed professional source of support.
• Workplace injury incidence is high, with a significant impact on time taken off work.
  • Almost 30% being injured at work
  • More than 35% of those who had been injured had more than 3 months off.

This shows the strong links between poor mental health, poor physical health and loss of income.