The Block’s Sonny wasn’t expecting to break down after a pre-start meeting Friday morning.
Leading the meeting were Daniel Allen and Ed Ross from TIACS, a mental health charity for trades and their families.
TIACS stands for ‘This Is A Conversation Starter’, a conversation that Sonny, being a small business owner and father, could resonate with all too well.
Sonny opens up about his personal “struggles”. (Nine)
Speaking to cameras, the dad-of-three opened up about the mounting “pressure” small business owners and tradies can face.
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“I’ve been through parts of my life where you’re a tradesman, you’re paying most of the bills, if not all the bills at home… it’s hard.”
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Sonny and Alicia explained that in the trade industry, you don’t always get paid, whether on time or at all.
They open up about the pressure they’ve faced in the video below:
“We struggle,” said Alicia as she became emotional.
“We go through patches of… people don’t pay a bill and I’m ringing dad for grocery money because we can’t afford groceries,” she shared.
Sonny said he was struggling under “the pressure” of his work.
“[Alicia] quit her job to help me, then we got on The Block,” he revealed.
Sonny and Alicia are doing this for their family. (Nine)
It became clearer then ever, how much The Block experience means to the couple, hoping in the end, it could “help relieve” some of the pressure they face.
Back on site, Bunnings put on a barbecue to raise money for TIACS.
The non-for-profit offers counselling service for tradies, truckers, farmers and blue-collared workers.
Dan and Ed from TIACS. (Nine)
“We realised there’s more needed to be done in our industry to support the mental wellbeing of our tradies,” Dan and Ed from TIACS explained.
It was a cause the Blockheads were more than happy to get around.
If you or someone you know needs immediate or mental health-related support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
The Block airs Sundays at 7pm and continues Monday to Wednesday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 7:00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Stream every episode ever of The Block for free on 9Now.
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