The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity has today added another route to vital wellbeing support with the launch of the ‘Text HARDHAT to 85258’ service to provide immediate help to any worker in the construction and allied industries.
The text HARDHAT to 85258 service complements the charity’s existing 24/7 Construction Industry Helpline and Helpline App and offers immediate support to those who feel more comfortable texting with someone rather than holding a one to one telephone conversation.
Like the charity’s helpline, the service is available at any time of the day or night and offers free, anonymous and confidential support to anyone in the industry who is feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, suicidal or simply struggling with everyday life.
Individuals can access support by texting the word ‘HARDHAT’ to 85258. This will put them in touch with trained volunteers who will ask for a little more information about what the problem is, with the individual sharing what they feel comfortable with. The volunteers listen without judgement and can provide support and guidance on a huge variety of issues including; feeling anxious, relationship problems, loneliness and isolation, abuse, addiction, depression, bullying and harassment, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts and feelings.
The text conversation will only finish when the volunteer has helped the person to reach a calm and safe place. They will also be able to provide a plan so that users can understand how to help themselves going forward and signpost to further resources or tools to provide more expert support.
CEO Bill Hill said, “Our new 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, the charity supported 2788 families, an increase of 23% on the previous yea and delivered £1,077,015 of charitable giving to the 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.
The 24/7 Construction Industry Helpline is on UK 0345 605 1956, ROI 1800 939 122
or text HARDHAT to 85258.
www.lighthouseclub.org
