Mining is widely recognised as a hazardous profession. This is not only due to its physical dangers, but also because of the significant impact it can have on workers’ mental health.
The nature of mining work, particularly for fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) jobs, can trigger a range of mental health issues, such as anxiety, stress, depression, mental fatigue, and sleep disorders, just to name a few.
Add to this the reality of modern work life, and it means that many employees are spending more time with colleagues than with their own families. As a result, it is now our colleagues who may notice changes in our demeanour before any other people in our lives.
Sometimes all it takes is eight letters, three words, and one question: “Are you OK?”
This question, popularised by Gavin Larkin in 2009, has evolved into an annual awareness campaign observed in Australia on the second Thursday of September. It has become a cultural movement, promoting mental health, and encouraging open conversations about emotional wellbeing.
In honour of R U OK? Day, today (12 September 2024), Mining.com.au highlights the mental health challenges faced by mining workers and the FIFO sector, and the initiatives designed to support them.
Camp life vs home life
The life of a FIFO worker in the mining sector is marked by long working hours, physical strain, isolation, and high-pressure environments. These factors can take a toll on anyone’s mental wellbeing.
Speaking to Mining.com.au, MATES in Energy & Manufacturing National Operations Manager Amanda Braddock says working within mining presents unique challenges for workers and their families.
“The nature of the job — long shifts, physical demands, and often remote living conditions — can lead to feelings of isolation and make it hard to maintain regular routines, like staying connected with loved ones or engaging in activities that support mental wellbeing,” she says.
MATES is an evidence-based suicide awareness and prevention program for at-risk sectors construction, energy, manufacturing, and mining. MATES in Mining follows the Construction model developed in 2008 to reduce high suicide rates in the construction industry.
These MATES programs leverage industry participation and support to further imbed mental health awareness and suicide prevention into industry culture. For the MATES programs focusing on mining and energy much of this work focuses on FIFO life.
Glenn Grayson, Managing Director of Aruma Resources (ASX:AAJ) tells Mining.com.au the dichotomy between “camp life and home life,” emphasises the stark contrast between these two aspects of a FIFO worker’s existence.
“You’ve got two absolutely separate parts to your life, which your family back in Perth, don’t necessarily know or see,” he says.
Grayson notes that early in his career, longer rosters and less support created a more challenging environment, but also a stronger sense of camaraderie among workers.
“The rosters were longer and the support was less — conditions were worse,” he says.
“[In your free time] that’s where you can play touch, footy, tennis, cricket, and go to the gym and that was super important.”
Today, shorter stints and reduced opportunities for social interaction have altered this dynamic.
Another part of FIFO ‘camp life’ that has become an issue for many workers is the drinking culture.
Blake Wood (pictured right), co-founder of mental health initiative FIFOzero, recalls that drinking was widespread and largely unregulated, which added to the mental and physical toll of his work and personal life.
“Don’t get me wrong, I loved having a beer with the boys. But it was every night. I literally had to go on days off to have a rest.”
Grayson shares a similar sentiment to Wood’s, saying one thing he did not enjoy was that if you didn’t want to drink, there was nowhere else to go but your room alone.
“You went to your room and sat on your bed. There was no nice lounge area to be able to just chill out or do some work and that was a part I hated. Either drink beer or sit on your bed.”
Several studies underscore the importance of these lifestyle factors, including one conducted by the Western Australian Mental Health Commission which reveals that 71% of FIFO workers consume more than two standard drinks on any given day, compared to 43% in the general population.
The excessive drinking has been linked to perceived masculinity norms, stigma, loneliness, home-work life conflict, and difficulties transitioning between work and home life. The differences between camp life and home life can exacerbate feelings of disconnection, and highlights the need for improvements in the FIFO lifestyle.
Mental health challenges in the mining workplace
The Western Australian Government’s Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) Program Landmark Study reveals that one in three mining workers experience regular emotional exhaustion, indicating high levels of burnout.
Speaking to Mining.com.au, Helix Resources (ASX:HLX) Managing Director Kylie Prendergast says there are massive psycho-social risks and hazards within the workplace.
“People are now starting to see that there are mental health risks in the job,” she says.
Wood has observed many workers on the job and has seen them struggle with feelings of inadequacy due to stigma, which can intensify their mental health struggles.
“We believe it goes a lot towards stigma, because if we feel like we’re struggling with something, we then attach that to our identity and feel like there is something wrong with you.”
Karla Morales, Marketing Coordinator of free counselling service TIACS, tells this news service that the remote and demanding nature of FIFO work often discourages workers from seeking help.
“Many workers feel the pressure to ‘tough it out,’ and the isolation that comes with working in remote locations can make it difficult to access mental health support,” Morales explains.
Despite the importance of safety in mining, mental health often does not receive the same level of attention.
Grayson (pictured left) notes that while safety training is extensive, mental health awareness and support are still trying to catch up.
“The mental health side has certainly rolled out more than it used to be, but I am not sure if it sticks in people’s heads,” he says.
“It’s male mentality, they are not utilising it. This is partly because they may not recognise they have problems. Some guys just don’t recognise it.”
While engaging with the mining workforce across Australia, Wood noticed a common barrier: the stereotypical resistance of men specifically to open up about their struggles.
“Two main things that we’ve found challenging within the industry is the process of connecting and sharing more of how we can get better at uniting,” he says.
“Initially, some of the guys would be standoffish, arms folded, heads down. That is why we want to present mental health in a way that excites and resonates with men.
“I don’t know if excited is the right word, because when you’re talking about saving lives, it’s a must.”
Gender and generational gaps
The male dominated culture in mining can further complicate the issues of not recognising personal mental health problems.
According to Logic Health, the FIFO workforce is predominantly males aged between 25 to 44. Couple this with that fact that Elliotts Australia reports that suicide is the number one killer of men aged between 15 and 44 years old, and it’s easy to see a troubling picture emerging.
“The ‘toughen up’ culture that has historically existed in mining can make it difficult for individuals to speak openly about their struggles, whether those are related to mental health, relationships, or financial pressures,” Braddock says.
The generational gap in the mining workforce also plays a role in the mental health problems experienced by workers in the mining industry.
Prendergast (pictured right) points out that older workers have tended to hold different expectations and work ethics compared to younger generations, which can create additional pressures and stresses.
“Some older workers have clear ideas on how things should be done — work ethic, for instance,” she says.
“They work very hard and then they have expectations, certainly of the younger generations, which I heard a lot of complaints about. People complain about others not working as hard or not being as smart. But that creates pressure on young workers.”
Part of this generational gap is due to the fact that these different age groups have worked in completely different environments.
Prendergast adds that there was limited mental health and support earlier in her career.
“We put up with all sorts of rubbish. There was a lot of gender discrimination, a lot more bullying, and very long work rosters,” she says.
“I have lots of friends who have had all sorts of marriage breakdowns and family issues because of these things.
“These days, people — especially within big companies — have done a lot of work acknowledging these issues; making sure people have a really good work-life balance. Now, I have friends that work two weeks on, two weeks off and are really happy.”
Mental health support systems in mining
Addressing mental health in the mining sector requires effective support systems and initiatives.
Andrew McMahon, General Manager for non-profit suicide prevention organisation MATES in Mining, says the mining industry has been a leader in tackling the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health since 2010.
“The groundbreaking collaborative efforts of industry partners, including companies and unions, laid the foundation for the establishment of MATES in Mining 10 years ago,” McMahon says.
He adds that individual companies and mine sites have embraced a range of initiatives, including its MATES program, which is an evidence-based approach endorsed by the World Health Organisation.
One of these initiatives that is supported within the mining industry is a social impact workwear brand, TradeMutt, which aims to facilitate conversations about mental health through its distinctive workwear.
Speaking to Mining.com.au, Zac Van Manen, TradeMutt’s marketing manager, emphasises that mental health discussions should not be limited to a specific day, but rather should be part of everyday conversations.
“We do want to normalise the ability for people to be able to talk about how they are going and what we find is, it does not have to be this fully structured thing that you do all the time,” Van Manen says.
TradeMutt’s shirts feature a QR code linking to TIACS, making it easier for workers to access mental health support.
“Our goal is to be as visible and be there for people that want to have a chat,” Van Manen adds.
TIACS offers tailored services for the blue-collar community, including confidential, free support via text or call.
“Our focus is on early intervention, ensuring that help is easily accessible before things escalate,” Morales says.
“We provide professional, confidential, free support via text or call, eliminating the need for workers to visit a GP, physically visit an office, or wait long periods for assistance.”
MATES in Mining is focused on creating a culture where reaching out and supporting mates is second nature, and McMahon says the programs are designed to empower everyone onsite with the skills to recognise the signs of distress and the confidence to ask, “Are you ok?” and offer initial support.
“Through general awareness training (GAT), we help workers understand how to respond when they notice a colleague may be struggling,” McMahon says.
“But we dont stop there — our connector and applied suicide intervention skills training programs equip volunteers to act as first responders in their workplace. These volunteers are the heartbeat of the MATES program.”
MATES in Mining also offers postvention support after a suicide, ensuring that the entire community receives the care they need to heal.
Braddock says at MATES, the organisation’s mission is to partner with mining businesses and sites to build a culture where mates are looking out for another.
“Where it’s not just okay to ask for help, but it’s encouraged, and MATES willingly offer help to each other,” she says.
“It’s a journey, but every day we’re seeing shifts towards a more compassionate and supportive work environment.”
Prendergast notes these resources and organisations are “extremely important”, especially for junior companies if they do not have in-house resources.
“You are reliant on these other organisations outside for help, basically,” Prendergast says.
“These informal groups usually come out of the fact that somebody’s mate has died or something bad happened, so supporting those groups is the best thing the industry can do.”
In Western Australia, the Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) Program, a collaboration between four government agencies, aims to create mentally healthy workplaces within the mining sector.
MARS Program Landmark Study Chief Investigator, Professor Sharon Parker underscores the need for improved work design, leadership, and organisational culture to address the mental health challenges faced by mining workers.
“With the mining sector constituting 10% of our workforce in Western Australia and playing a pivotal role in our state’s economic prosperity, this study is a crucial step in highlighting the mental health, safety, and well being of workers,” Parker says.
By integrating mental health awareness into everyday practices and improving support systems, the mining industry can work towards better mental health outcomes for its workers.
The mining industry faces immense physical and mental health challenges, with FIFO life contrasting sharply with someone’s home environment. This dichotomy highlights the impact on mental well being, but there is a growing shift towards addressing these issues with urgency and compassion.
In the decade preceding 2023, more than 1,850 traumatic injury fatalities occurred in Australia, and about one in 12 workers (1.14 million) made a serious workers’ compensation claim.
In Australia, a meta-analysis of suicide by occupation identified a higher risk of suicide among men with low-level manual skills compared with those in high-skilled nonmanual positions.
This evidence suggests that workers in industries employing a higher proportion of younger male workers, such as mining and construction, likely have greater exposure to workplace incidents involving fatalities, serious injuries, and suicide than occupations with a more diverse labour profile.
On R U OK? Day, and everyday, the collective efforts to promote mental health can transform the mining community into a place where every worker feels supported.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Rochelle Padua, Blake Wood, Aruma Resources, Helix Resources, MATES in Mining, TradeMutt
