A mental health charity dedicated to supporting men and those working in the trades industry is expanding its reach, bringing vital services to those who often slip through the cracks to Orange.

Bruno Efoti recognises the unique pressures faced by tradies, from long hours and physical demands to the stigma surrounding mental health, his organisation, Tradies in Sight, is focused on creating safe spaces and fostering open conversations.

Tradies in Sight will be hosting their first event on Tuesday, May 13, at 7am at Kent H’s Hardware on Dalton Street at Orange.

Mr Efoti will be hosting his “Brekky with Bruno” which will be an opportunity for honest and transparent discussions about mental health struggles.

“There is an opportunity to do more, we just want to make sure that people are aware that the support is going to be there locally,” he told Orange City Life.

“We now have someone who has offered to run Tradies in Sight in Orange so it is great to finally get the support out there.”

While discussions about mental health challenges have become widely accepted in workplaces across the country for those working in the trade industry; the stigma and shame is hard to shake.

190 Australians working in the construction industry take their own lives every year; this means we lose a construction worker every second day to suicide.

Construction workers are eight times more likely to die from suicide than an accident at work and for younger tradies, they are well over two times more likely to take their own lives than other young Australian men.

Mr Efoti is the founder of Tradies in Sight and has been visiting Orange for the last couple of years, working with first year apprentices in the region.

“I’ve been running a program with the TAFE in Orange with the first year apprentices so carpentry, painters and the plasterers and it’s all about taking care of your mental health,” Mr Efoti said.

“Most apprentices are struggling, so we have been going over there to help them out when we can.”

For those working the trade sector, suicide seems to be a part of the reality of working in the industry.

Work within the industry is highly transient with most workers employed on a project-by-project basis, for periods ranging from a few weeks to at best a few years.

Workers find it difficult to discuss feelings and emotions with colleagues at work while the nature of the work has made social support more difficult.

Mr Efoti says by extending Tradies in Sight services to Orange, more individuals can take hold of their mental health, before it is too late.

“We have been working around the Orange community for the last couple of years and we have been responding to crisis calls as well,” he said

“The flow on effect has been many individuals taking hold of their mental well-being and seeking professional help, as we (Tradies in Sight) have broken through the stigma surrounding this issue and has given people the freedom and confidence to start a positive conversation.”

In 2020 to 2022, only 12.9 per cent of males saw a health professional for their mental health according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Mr Efoti and his charity Tradies in Sight is hoping by expanding their services to Orange and beginning tough conversations about mental health, more men and tradespeople will seek the professional help they need.