The stigma around mental illness “pervades” the Western Australian resources sector and is a major barrier to seeking help, according to a report into the mental health of fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workers.
The Education and Health Standing Committee launched an inquiry into the impact of mental health issues on FIFO workers after nine WA miners took their lives in a 12-month period.
The interim report released today highlighted what it described as a serious stigma associated with mental illness that “pervades” the resources sector.
“This stigma is a significant workplace cultural issue and is a major barrier to encouraging help seeking behaviour amongst the FIFO workforce,” the report said.
“The problem for the resources sector is that the perception of adverse consequences associated with reporting mental health concerns is reportedly preventing employees from taking action to address their problems.”
The committee also referenced reports FIFO workers had stopped taking anti-depressant medication out of fear there would be “adverse consequences” if their employer found out.
“It is essential that stigma and the associated fear of disclosure of mental health problems are eliminated form the workplaces and that FIFO workers are able to get the treatment they require for their illness,” the committee wrote.
The paper also stated how separation from family, friends and other support structures removed a vital mechanism through which workers can seek help for their mental health issues.
The committee said of concern was the difficulty in gaining access to reliable data, even to the point of gaining an accurate figure of how many FIFO worker there are in WA.
Lack of regulation around FIFO accommodation a concern
The report also highlighted the grey area in the regulation and reporting of incidents at off-site accommodation.
“Of particular significance is the exclusion of accommodation facilities for mining workers from the scope of the legislation in the mining industry,” it said.
The practice of “motelling”, where workers are assigned a different room each shift, was also identified as contributing to the sense of isolation of FIFO workers.
The report also commented on the “inconsistency” in the level of regulatory protection offered to workers in mining as opposed to the petroleum industry.
The committee’s chair, Liberal MP Graham Jacobs, told Parliament the committee had much more work to do, but said it was vital the discussion continued.
“It is actually about saving lives. And if we can save lives and we have the potential to save lives, that’s what we should do,” he said.
“Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of those workers who have suffered distress, and indeed some of those families that have had members who have committed suicide.”
The committee is set to table its final report to Parliament in June next year.