Health & Safety Society – Mates in Mining – Suicide Prevention in the Mining Industry

Suicide is the leading cause of death among people aged 15-44 in Australia, with males consistently accounting for approximately three-quarters of suicide deaths. The mining and resources industry in Australia remains heavily male dominated, accounting for 83.7% of the workforce (based on 2018 ABS Australian Labour Workforce Report).

On average, over 65,000 Australians make a suicide attempt each year.

Suicide is a complex issue but there are protective factors that can reduce suicidal ideation including supportive social relationships and positive connections to good health and support services. MATES in Mining aims to build and strengthen these protective factors within the workplace.

MATES in Mining is an evidence-based suicide awareness and prevention program for the mining industry. The program leverages industry participation and support to further imbed suicide prevention and mental health awareness into the industry culture.

MATES in Mining applies the highly successful MATES in Construction model to the mining and resource industry. MATES in Construction was developed in 2008 to reduce high suicide rates in the construction industry. To ensure the program was adequate and effective for the mining and resources sector, MATES in Mining collaborated with ACARP (the Australian Coal Industry’s Research Program), University of Newcastle, Everymind (formerly Hunter Institute for Mental Health), the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), and several employers to revise the original MATES in Construction program content and develop a fit for purpose program for the mining and resources industry.

MATES in Mining delivers an integrated program of workforce capacity building and support, utilising training as a tool to raise awareness about suicide and mental health in the mining industry. MATES in Mining works from the fundamental principle that increasing the capacity of individuals and communities to recognise suicidal behaviour, and prevent and respond to suicide, is essential to reducing the rate of suicide.

Workforce capacity building is provided through clear pathways of education, training and support – building communities of MATES who can look out for MATES. The program is adapted to mirror safety

structures onsite and engages the entire workforce in providing a mentally safer and healthier workplace.

The elements of education, training and direct support include:

General Awareness Training (GAT) – is designed to be delivered to everyone in the workplace and inducts the workforce to become aware of mental health and encourages questioning of established stigma. The training discusses the issues of suicide, mental health and suicide risk tipping points, recognition of risk and ability to offer help to individuals experiencing suicidal ideation.

Connector Training – is designed to support workplace volunteers to be trained as gatekeepers who are encouraged to take a leadership role in the promotion of a mentally healthier workplace and have the skills to keep a MATE safe onsite and connect them to help.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) – provides onsite volunteers with additional skills to support a MATE who may have suicidal thoughts. These workers can be compared to the first aid officer on–site. ASIST workers will talk to a person contemplating suicide with the object of making this person “safe”. Using simple skills, an ASIST worker will listen to the persons concerns and respond to them appropriately with the object of developing a contract or a safe plan with the at-risk worker.

Field Officers – have ongoing contact with sites through regular site visits, to help build a sense of community. Field Officers provide toolbox talks, refresher training sessions and facilitate other activities onsite to help enable the workforce to support each other. Field Officers also provide additional and ongoing support to Connector and ASIST trained workers onsite – ensuring that these volunteers are supported as they are active in their roles supporting their peers.

Where there is a critical incident or suicide, a Field Officer will attend site by invitation of the workplace to support its workers in dealing with the emotions and reactions that emerge as a result. Part of this process is to recharge the onsite MATES network (Connectors and ASIST workers) to be vigilant in keeping an eye on their mates in the following times in case this incident has had an adverse effect on any workers.

Case Management – is provided by qualified professionals (Social Workers or Psychologists) to further assist workers who are struggling with their mental health and/or suicidal ideation. A “brokerage” model of case management is used whereby case managers do not provide clinical services but connect the worker to appropriate services in their industry or their community. These services include workplace EAP’s, financial counselling, drug and alcohol counselling.

Dedicated 24/7 telephone support line – provided to mining and resource workers and their families.

The gold standard is to achieve ‘MATES Accredited Site’ status. When a site has achieved accreditation targets (as identified in the below graphic), it will be awarded a Certificate of Accreditation by MATES, preferably at a site gathering.

MATES in Mining exists to strengthen the mining industry by preventing suicide, because a life saved is one less family grieving, one less workplace impacted and one less community heartbroken.

Embracing the MATES program makes work sites safer, more productive and more supportive of individuals, and demonstrates a real commitment to the mental health and well-being of all workers.

For more information on MATES in Mining, please email info@matesinmining.org.au