Australian workers in mining, oil and gas are being armed with information to help prevent suicide as part of a new partnership between Mining Family Matters and Wesley LifeForce Suicide Prevention Networks.

 

Mining Family Matters founder Alicia Ranford says the Rock Solid Suicide Prevention Program aims to build emotional resilience and help prevent suicide among workers in the male-dominated resources industry, while also resourcing families with practical strategies to survive the challenges of working away or shift work.

 

The launch of the program comes as the West Australian Parliament investigates the mental health impacts of FIFO work arrangements, and greater awareness nationally about Australia's alarming suicide statistics that show suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians between the ages of 15-44.

 

The CEO of Wesley Mission the Rev Dr Keith Garner says although there is no specific research about the rate of suicide among workers in mining and resources, experts agree that fly-in, fly-out and drive-in, drive-out (DIDO) workers have greater exposure to risk factors that can contribute to deaths by suicide.  

Wesley LifeForce has trained more than 20,000 Australians in suicide prevention in workshops in urban, regional and remote communities.

 

Under the Rock Solid collaboration, Wesley LifeForce is offering a range of cost-effective workshops to mining and resources companies Australia-wide, to teach simple, effective interventions aimed at reducing the cost of workplace stress, saving lives and helping to eliminate the impact of losing a staff member to suicide.

 

These highly interactive workshops are delivered by skilled trainers with extensive experience in suicide prevention and mental health.

 

Key issues to be addressed include 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.

 

As part of the collaboration, Mining Family Matters has 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.