A Brisbane residential building company is walking the talk on men’s mental health, encouraging blokes to speak up, and ask for help if they need it.
The O’Shea and Sons Builders (OSB) team pride themselves on integrity, transparency and reliability in their work—and those same sentiments are clear in their passion for openness and keeping the conversation going when it comes to men in the industry and beyond dealing with the tough times.
“As someone who has been in the industry for a while now, I have worked with, mentored, and supported many young men in their work and home lives. I have witnessed a real pattern with guys reaching certain stages of their lives where they go through different struggles—financially, physically, and emotionally,” OSB Co-founder and Director Nick O’Shea said.
“As part of one our main pillars of business, we believe strongly in supporting the community that we have around us with workforce, subcontractors, suppliers, friends, and family. Something I personally feel strongly about is supporting young men to firstly realise the signs of when they maybe struggling, how to talk to others around them, and about the management plan of dealing with the struggles to come through the other end.”
Each month, the OSB team comes together for events focused on mind, body, and connection, such as hot Pilates, a game of touch footy at the park, or even a paint-and-sip session at the local bowls club.
“We find it connects our team but also gives them an opportunity to understand the importance of stopping, enjoying the small things in life, and resetting to be the best version of themselves both for work and home,” Nick said.
Three years ago, Nick was approached by a very close friend who asked him to participate in the Walk for a Bloke. Established by charity group Spoke to a Bloke in memory of their brother who tragically took his own life, the 25-kilometre event started in Sydney in 2019, and has grown to an annual event across the nation and overseas. Women are also encouraged to take part as supporters and volunteers.
The OSB team has participated in the walk every year since, and on March 22, once again made the trek from New Farm Park to The Normanby Hotel at Red Hill, where participants were encouraged to keep the conversation flowing and celebrate their achievement. They surpassed their fundraising goal this year, with their supporters donating $1100.
“This year we had our whole team involved. All 16 carpenters, a number of office staff, and a lot of friends and family were with us. I had my 72-year-old dad and 72-year-old father-in-law and also my 18-year-old son (who is a third-year apprentice with us) on the walk, so it was really special. To walk along, chat, and get the experience of the men who have been through a lot in their lives and then also share that with my own son was really moving,” Nick said.
“We love the messaging behind the walk but also the challenge of pushing ourselves and supporting our mates through the long walk. It hurts physically and is a mental challenge to keep on going. It’s amazing what you can achieve with a great group around you to keep pushing through.
“We all live such busy lives. I know me personally, working long hours, being a full-time dad, being a full-time husband, and a mate to those that I can. We never take the opportunity to stop and think about our own mental and physical well-being, or we don’t take the opportunity to stop and have a chat to our mates about how they’re going.
“It’s so important to get in there and have a chat to each other, have a laugh, have a cry. It’s more than just a walk: it’s about showing up for each other.”
Nick’s inspiring message is one of supporting those not only your own network but being an advocate for others in the industry.
“The building industry is hard enough. Let’s work together to find the best practices and methods with our staff and those around us. We are always happy to chat with other businesses and share the true benefits of supporting each other and our workforce through schemes and fundraisers.”
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Article originally published in Master Builders Qld
