MARKETS

Mental health study underway for remote workers

THE University of Canberra and the Australasian Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health are tea...

Hannah Vickers
Mental health study underway for remote workers

Companies and employees have historically been reluctant to share sensitive information, leading to a lack of useful and reliable research regarding the mental health of remote workers in the mining and resources sector.

ACRRMH chief executive officer Dr Jennifer Bowers said the group’s lifestyle and wellbeing survey could be used to gather information on mental health to help establish a benchmark going forward.

Bowers said collaborating with the University of Canberra brought added strength and credibility to the findings and the school was chosen for a reason.

“They have special skills in psychiatric epidemiology and analysing complex data,” she told MiningNews.net.

“Professor Helen Berry really is one of the few people that absolutely understand the issues about being disconnected from families and the issues of isolation.

“It’s not only knowledge but statistical skill and understanding of the issue when interpreting the data that’s important as well.”

ACRRMH hopes to expand the survey to allow for a greater comparison between sites, companies and even states in the future.

Given the turnover rate at mine and construction sites, the aim of the study is to help companies create preventative processes to ensure the health and wellbeing of future employees as well.

“We’re not speaking to the same people on each visit,” Bowers said.

“There is a churn and that’s why companies really do need to look at preventative strategies and keep them up because the whole idea is to change culture, change attitudes and raise awareness and put in a preventive strategy.”

The first company to participate in the research is reviewing the data, with Bowers saying she expects the information to be publicly released in the near future.

TOPICS:

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

editions

ESG Mining Company Index: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable Mining

The ESG Mining Company Index report provides an in-depth evaluation of ESG performance of 61 of the world's largest mining companies. Using a robust framework, it assesses each company across 9 meticulously weighted indicators within 6 essential pillars.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production