The program will consist of a range of workshops for mining and resources companies Australia-wide, to teach simple, cost-effective effective interventions against suicide.
The program will also give companies resources to help eliminate the impact of losing a staff member to suicide and reduce the cost of workplace stress.
Skilled trainers with experience in suicide prevention and mental health from Wesley Mission’s LifeForce networks will deliver the workshops, with key issues to be addressed including why people take their own life; risk and protective factors; commonly held beliefs about suicide; how to help someone going through a tough time; barriers to suicide intervention; how to build individual resilience; and implementing the See Ask Listen Tell (SALT) intervention strategy.
Mining Family Matters founder Alicia Ranford said the Rock Solid Suicide Prevention Program was about arming workers and their families, as well as their employers, with the tools they need to survive the industry’s challenges and provide support to people deemed most at risk of taking their own life.
“At Mining Family Matters we’ve always been convinced that the mental health of workers should be considered every bit as important as physical health and safety,” she said.
“That’s why we’re proud to be working with the suicide prevention team at Wesley LifeForce to bring their considerable expertise to the mining and resources industry, particularly given the additional pressures on fly-in, fly-out workers and their families.”
The program will be piloted in South Australia, thanks to funding from the Mining and Quarrying Occupational Health and Safety Committee (MAQOHSC) – an organisation funded by the state’s mining and quarrying industry to make workplaces safer.
The launch of the program comes as the Western Australian Parliament investigates the mental health impacts of FIFO work arrangements, and as statistics show that suicide remains the leading cause of death for Australians between the ages of 15-44.
Wesley Mission CEO Dr Keith Garner said although there was no specific research about the rate of suicide among workers in mining and resources, experts agree that FIFO and drive-in, drive-out workers have greater exposure to risk factors that can contribute to deaths by suicide.
“Risk factors for people who work away in mining and resources include social isolation, family and relationship stress and being exposed to high-risk on-the-job activities such as underground mining and blasting,” he said.
As part of the collaboration, Mining Family Matters has today also released the second edition of its award-winning Survival Guide for Mining Families, featuring more comprehensive information on the emotional wellbeing of workers as well as practical, professional strategies to keep relationships strong and happy.
Chapters include identifying stress and depression; overcoming stress, anxiety and sadness; building workplace resilience; knowing your mental health first aid; helping children to cope when you work away; simple ways to stay connected; and making your money work.
