ENVIRONMENT

Tropicana workers to get dedicated FIFO mental health program

To be rolled out to other Macmahon sites.

 A FIFO mental health program is being rolled out to Tropicana workers.

A FIFO mental health program is being rolled out to Tropicana workers.

About 300 FIFO workers at the Tropicana mine in Western Australia will be the first to access the program, which will be delivered to them through a series of toolbox talks over the next three days.

Strong Minds, Strong Mines has been developed for Macmahon by Rural & Remote Mental Health from its Resource Minds program.

The program is designed to tackle the growing and often complex mental health challenges facing remote mine workers.

The program is specifically designed for a FIFO workforce and covers a range of issues including the stigma of mental health, anxiety, depression, suicide prevention, relationships and financial stress.

It comes as Rural & Remote Mental Health conducts research into the mental health of Australian FIFO workers.

Post Tropicana, the program will be rolled out to Macmahon workers at selected mines over the next 12 months. The Telfer and Mt Morgan mines are to be the next sites targeted.

Macmahon will then explore a further expansion of the program across the company.

Resource Mind trainers delivered the program at Macmahon's recent project manager health, safety, environment, quality and training conference where 25 managers attended Mental Health for Leaders training.

Macmahon manager health, safety, environment and quality Kale Ross said the company recognised that a proactive approach to preventing mental harm issues in the workplace was vital when dealing with a FIFO workforce.

"To this end we searched for mental health specialists who understand the specific challenges facing the FIFO lifestyle," he said.

"As a mining contractor with a workforce across multiple projects, it's important that we do our best to keep our people safe.

"Providing a comprehensive mental health program will provide a deeper level of support to help increase the mental wellness and resilience of our workforce."

Resource Minds manager Tracey Inglis said FIFO employees faced multiple and complex mental health challenges.

She said stigma, which affected 75% of people with mental illness, remained the greatest challenge.

"Cultural change is required within the mining sector with commitment from management to mental health education, identification of champions and peer group support being vital to reducing the stigma associated with mental health," Inglis said.

"The Strong Minds, Strong Mines initiative by Macmahon aims to start breaking down some of the barriers associated with mental health stigma, encourage employees to talk to each other about their mental health, seek help and look out for their mates."

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