Although the festive season represents a time of joy, one in three Australians are experiencing a surge of tensions, emotional triggers, and complex family dynamics.
The holiday season negatively impacts one-third of Australians’ family relationships, driven by financial pressures (30%) and work-life imbalances (men 31%, women 33%).
With suicide being the leading cause of death for working-age Australians, these sorts of pressures during this time of year could worsen for those working in the mining sector.
According to Lifeline Australia, an average of nine Australians die by suicide each day. While there is no precise figure, estimates suggest more than 54,000 Australians attempt suicide each year.
More alarming is that 75% of those who die from suicide are men aged between 40 and 59 – representing a large portion of mining’s age demographic – and over 85 years.
These statistics hit particularly hard in mining – a male-dominated workforce – where suicide rates are 80% higher than the national average, according to MATES in Mining.
As Mining.com.au reported, Australia’s fly-in fly-out (FIFO) and drive-in drive-out (DIDO) models – while necessary for operational efficiency – have been linked to increased stress and elevated suicide rates.
According to a report by Drill Down, a study from 2011 to 2019 indicated that male mining workers in Australia experienced suicide rates ranging 11-25% per 100,000 workers, with an adjusted estimate closer to 25% per 100,000.
Long shifts, isolation, job insecurity, and stigma around speaking up all compound the risk of suicide in mining.
Making it all bright
HealthBright recognises that Australian families experience existing tension and have created a festive season survival kit. The kit offers practical, psychologist-backed strategies designed to help people set boundaries, manage conflict, and protect their mental wellbeing throughout the holidays.
The kit includes practical, accessible guidance, such as how to set boundaries with difficult or high-conflict family members.
Someone.health lead psychologist Craig Russouw says the strategies outlined in the guide can help manage stress often caused by a spike in social interactions over the holidays.
“The holidays can bring up a mix of emotions, from joy and nostalgia to grief, social fatigue, and stress,” Russouw says.
“Managing expectations, coping with comparisons to others, and navigating complex family dynamics are all part of staying well during this period.
“High-conflict families don’t necessarily suddenly become harmonious during the holidays. When people are already living with criticism, discrimination or longstanding emotional wounds, the festive season can intensify these dynamics.”
CEO of HealthBright, Sarah Richardson says the kit gives Australians a plan for navigating tricky family situations.
“With practical strategies to stay grounded, manage negative dynamics, and know when to step back, it helps people protect their mental wellbeing and approach the holidays with confidence instead of stress,” Richardson says.
This can also be directly linked to the mining and resources industry.
Work Safe Australia says the introduction of digitalisation and AI in various forms throughout a workplace may decrease the exposure to physical risks, but can introduce more psychosocial hazards to job roles, as previously reported.
This is largely because of the decreased interpersonal interactions and the intensification of work.
Psychosocial refers to the combined effect that psychological factors and the social environment have on a person’s physical and mental health. This covers things like work-related harassment or bullying, work pressure, workplace violence and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
For an industry that prides itself on safety, these figures reveal somewhat of a blindspot that can no longer be ignored.
Lifeline: 13 11 14, lifeline.org.au
Headspace: 1800 650 890, headspace.org.au
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 635, beyondblue.org.au
SANE Support line and Forums: 1800 187 263, saneforums.org
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
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