Mental health
Corporate support for stronger mental health
WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FOR MINING WORKERS INCREASING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE INDUSTRY HAS STEPPED UP TO PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT FOR ITS WORKFORCE.
T
he number one focus of Australia’s mining industry is for employees to go home safely at the end of each day. This doesn’t just mean that workers are physically safe – mental health is also crucial to workforce wellbeing. While the focus on employee wellbeing has strengthened in recent years, the coronavirus pandemic has introduced fresh challenges for workforce mental health. For example, some miners are on longer rosters and have been separated from their family and support networks due to travel restrictions. The mining industry recognises that the pandemic, which has required companies to relocate employees, minimise the number of workers on site and institute longer shift cycles, has placed pressure on relationships and mental health.
During this stressful period, MATES in Mining encouraged mine workers to reach out to Connectors, who had been trained in their workplace to help keep colleagues safe. The MATES in Mining program trains employees to assist colleagues affected by personal and work challenges. The Connector model involves workers on site volunteering to help someone in crisis by connecting them to professional help. MATES in Mining has also kept its helpline open 24/7 without interruption to provide case management support. The charity organisation, supported by the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), has run its volunteer program at more than 15 mine sites across New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia. Pilot programs were initially launched at Glencore’s Clermont and Glendell
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mines in Queensland and New South Wales, respectively, and have since been expanded to additional mine sites. The initiative aims to raise awareness about suicide and issues that could cause suicidal thoughts, reducing barriers to help workers or friends going through a hard time by offering appropriate and accessible help for workers in need. This model has proven to lower suicide rates in the construction industry. According to the MCA, New Hope Group is another company to introduce a peer support program to support employees going through personal and work difficulties. MCA chief executive Tania Constable says the success of the MATES in Mining pilots has resulted in a national rollout of the initiative, adding that workplace mental health programs are a sound investment in workforce wellbeing that
