A $150,000 HIA Charitable Foundation (HIACF) donation will fund more than 3,100 calls to the Beyond Blue Support Service. The free service is entirely funded through donations, with mental health professionals available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide immediate, confidential, short-term counselling, advice and referrals.
HIACF's total contributions to Beyond Blue have reached an amazing $700,000 during the three-year partnership.
Foundation Chairman Ron Dwyer said the continued partnership with Beyond Blue is especially relevant to the male-dominated construction industry as workers are almost twice as likely to take their own life than those in other industries1.
"Over the years we have been a proud major partner of Beyond Blue, promoting awareness of mental health and avenues for accessing support to people in the residential building industry," Mr Dwyer said.
"Our new focus for our funding contribution to the Beyond Blue Support Service links to the awareness raising we've been doing, making sure workers can access the help they need."
Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman thanked the HIA Charitable Foundation for the generous donation, continued partnership and for championing mental health advocacy within the construction industry.
"At Beyond Blue we are proud to have partners like HIACF who are actively challenging stigma and changing the conversation about mental health and suicide," Ms Harman said.
"Of the eight Australians who die by suicide each day, six are men. We can change this shocking number and I thank HIACF and HIA members for their strong leadership and support for everyone involved in their industry."
