FIVE years after Australia celebrated its major mining boom, the industry is slowly picking up again. Mental health is now clearly on the industry radar and mining suicide prevention is more relevant than ever.The sector is offering 32 per cent more job ads now than this time last year, however, Australians are not as keen as they used to be on picking them up.

There are currently over 1000 vacancies in the Kalgoorlie-Boulder mining sector and the region is at crisis point. However, one of the leading issues with the work is the effect it has on the workers who are flown in and flown out for the roles. Despite the large salaries on offer, it is becoming less attractive to work FIFO roles, and mostly due to the lack of work/life balance and the effects the FIFO lifestyle has on mental health.

FIFO workers struggle with depression, they have far higher rates of suicide, report higher rates of workplace bullying and alcoholism and even though many studies have been done to work out statistics, none have been successful enough to find sufficient data.

Lifeline Western Australia admitted last October that statistically, the organisation had no idea how many FIFO workers were affected by mental illness, or how many had committed suicide.

Quick Facts

• Research shows that every year 190 Australians who work in the mining and resources industry take their own lives – that’s one every second day.
• Suicide rates in Australia have increased over the past 10 years.
• Three out of four suicides are by men
• Suicide is the leading cause of death for men between 15 and 44 years of age.

We know that FIFO workers are under a lot of pressure.

We know that FIFO workers are largely young male labourers

We know that FIFO workers represent a large cohort of young people who take their own lives.

So, what are we doing about it?

What we need is a better understanding of how the work, and their lives during FIFO roles affect their mental health.  Leaders in the industry have called for a more attractive offer for FIFO based roles. A  change in the industry is needed, and if companies want to employ Australian workers, they need to adapt and react to the problems triggered by their production needs.

As an industry we need to think about mining suicide prevention

While it is excruciatingly difficult to find records, statistics, and data of mental illness in the fly-in, fly-out industry, there is plenty of evidence from FIFO workers to suggest this problem is not only endemic of the industry but is worsening.

Thursday, 13^th September is R U OK? Day. R U OK? Day is a prompt to start a conversation with someone you may work with, someone in your family, friends, or even YOU, about depression, suicide and dealing with everyday struggles we deal with in this industry.

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. The World Health Organization estimates that over 800,000 people die by suicide each year – that’s one person every 40 seconds. ‘Working Together to Prevent Suicide’ is the theme of the 2018 World Suicide Prevention Day – This theme was chosen internationally as it highlights the most essential ingredient for effective global suicide prevention- collaboration. We all have a role to play and together we can collectively address the challenges presented by suicidal behaviour in society today.

This year’s WSPD theme also complements the efforts of  R U OK? Day  (13 September) who support taking time to notice what’s going on with your family, friends and colleagues – and yourself. It is about taking time to have those conversations when you notice something has changed and equipping yourself to help yourself and others. We need to have a focus on mining suicide prevention.

This week, R U OK? Day is dedicated to asking people you think may be suffering a little or a lot, if they are ok. It’s the perfect time to start asking this question more regularly, to many more people.

Are you thinking about suicide?
You are not alone. Help is available.

These services are available to help you now:

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