The parents of a fly-in, fly-out mine worker who committed suicide say workers are scared to report mental health issues in case they get sacked.
Rhys Connor, 25, was working at Rio Tinto’s Hope Downs mine site in WA’s Pilbara as a concreter when he took his life in July 2013.
A parliamentary inquiry into a spate of suicides by FIFO workers – nine in 12 months – was examining the effects of the lifestyle on mental health.
Rhys’ stepfather Peter Miller said the onset of Rhys’ mental health issues was sudden and they were not sure what to do.
Mr Miller said a break-up with his girlfriend weeks before had contributed to Mr Connor’s mental health decline and he was also missing his young son he had with a previous partner.
He said the start of Mr Connor’s mental health problems to his suicide was only about six weeks.
Mr Miller said Rhys went to the Mead Centre in Armadale, a government-run adult mental health service when he was off rotation in Perth, but was unable to see a psychologist.
He said someone from the facility called Mr Connor at home and told him to seek on-site services available if he felt depressed.
Mr Connor told Mr Miller that he thought if his employer OTOC limited found out he had seen a psychologist in Perth, he would lose his job.
“Rhys believed the minute he said to his employer ‘look I can’t go back’, he felt that he wouldn’t be employed anymore,” he said.
Rhys’ parents afraid they won’t have answers
On 24 July, Rhys texted his parents to tell them he was coming home in a few days, that his job was winding up.
He had a few beers with co-workers, had dinner and went to bed.
Mr Miller said he did not know what circumstances led Rhys to taking his own life.
“We do not know the details of conversations that happened that night. The company said we can’t talk to his co-workers,” he said.
“I think about it every day – how he went from telling us he was coming home to taking his own life; I will never know the answers.
Mr Miller said his stepson Rhys had also begged him not to contact the on-site services to report he was struggling.
“When we first became aware Rhys was going to need help I spoke with him (on site) and he begged me not to do anything at all,” he said.
Ms Miller said the outcome she wanted from the parliamentary inquiry was for mining companies to make changes.
“Do I blame FIFO – no I don’t, but I see it as a contributing factor,” she said.
“For Rhys and the many others, I beg you, mining companies, to make changes.
“Better [mental health] services and delivery of those services on mines sites, and people not to be excluded and fear job loss if they are being treated for depression.
“Rhys definitely did not want anything getting back to the employer that he was having a hard time, feeling a bit down; he was just frightened of job loss; it’s as simple as that.
“I would just like someone to acknowledge it and say – yes there is a big problem and what can we do to improve?”
The inquiry into mental health impacts of FIFO work arrangements started in October and is chaired by Liberal MP Graham Jacobs.