The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity has added another way for people within the glazing and wider construction industry to get wellbeing support: text HARDHAT to 85258. The text service launched today (1 February 2022), and aims to provide immediate support to the construction community.
The text HARDHAT to 85258 service complements the charity’s existing 24/7 Construction Industry Helpline (0345 605 1956 for callers in the UK and 1800 939 122 for callers in the Republic of Ireland) and Helpline mobile phone app. The new service offers immediate support to those who feel more comfortable texting, rather than having a one-to-one phone conversation.
Just like the charity’s helpline, the text HARDHAT to 85258 service is available at any time of the day or night. It offers free, anonymous and confidential support to anyone in the industry who is feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, suicidal or struggling with everyday life.
Individuals can access support simply by texting HARDHAT to 85258. This will put the texter in touch with trained volunteers who will only ask the individual to share what they feel comfortable with sharing. The charity claims that its volunteers listen without judgement, and can provide support and guidance on a huge variety of issues, including relationship problems, anxiety, loneliness, abuse, addiction, depression, and suicidal thoughts and feelings.
The text conversation will finish when the charity’s volunteer has helped the person reach a calm and safe place. Volunteers can also provide a plan, so that users can understand how to help themselves going forward, as well as signpost to further resources or tools.
Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, said: “Our new text HARDHAT to 85258 service comes at a time when many are still struggling on a daily basis with debt, anxiety and family issues. Some things are returning to normality, but there are still far-reaching consequences and underlying problems that remain as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. These pressures are in addition to the ‘normal’ stresses and strains of working in an industry where two workers take their own life every single working day, and a fifth of all work-related illness is due to stress, anxiety or depression.
“Last year, our charity supported 2,788 families, an increase of 23% on the previous year. We delivered £1,077,015 of charitable giving to our construction community. This support ranged from making sure there was a meal on the table for families and paying household bills, helping with debt and financial issues, and providing quick access to professional counselling sessions.
“We know that there are many people who feel embarrassed, or unable to reach out for help by calling someone. Introducing our text HARDHAT to 85258 service is yet another route to access support before situations escalate out of control.
“We cannot stress enough that it really doesn’t matter how small or large you think your problem is, there is always support available . We can provide that help through the channels that people feel most comfortable with. That could be by using our free Construction Industry Helpline App, calling our 24/7 Construction Industry Helpline and talking to someone, and now we have our text HARDHAT to 85258 service.” If you need help or support now, or know someone that does, you can call the charity’s 24/7 Construction Industry Helpline on 0345 605 1956 (for callers in the Republic of Ireland, it’s 1800 939 122), visit www.lighthouseclub.org or text HARDHAT to 85258.
