Informed Sources is proud to announce its partnership with Australian charity TIACS (This Is a Conversation Starter) – a free and confidential talk and text counselling service that provides mental health support for blue-collar workers and those that care about them Australia-wide.
TIACS aims to provide early intervention counselling support for tradies, truck drivers and other blue-collar workers – as well as their loved ones. Their focus is to provide the highest quality of care possible.
After founders and former carpenters Edward Ross and Dan Allen lost one of their friends to suicide, they took it upon themselves to provide easier access to free counselling services in Australia – with a focus on supporting blue-collar workers.
TIACS has grown rapidly and now employs 11 fully qualified counsellors and mental health professionals who provide care across Australia. To date they have supported over 12,000 clients and provided over AUD $2 million of free mental health support back into the community.
The organisation strives to promote a culture of positive mental health through education and support. Anyone experiencing difficulty can reach out and talk or text immediately with experienced counsellors.
Common issues include relationship troubles, familial issues, grief and loss, substance use, depression, anxiety and loneliness.
TIACS’ brightly-coloured shirts (seen above) are designed to be worn on site as a “conversation starter” to raise awareness of the organisation and mental health issues more broadly.
Their impossibly cute therapy dog Chippie (below) also helps provide emotional support for counsellors – as well as spreading awareness for the important work all service dogs do!
Informed Sources will be providing office space, support and technical assistance to TIACS’ Brisbane staff, allowing them to divert funds into over 500 hours of direct client care. This will be of great help to the not-for-profit organisation in the day-to-day running of its operations as it continues to grow in line with ever-increasing demand.
Informed Sources is proud to be partnering with this terrific organisation whose values are strongly aligned with our own. We feel privileged to be able to lend our support in addressing a cause we care deeply about – improved mental health and well-being in our community.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, get in touch with TIACS today on 0488 846 988.
