Partners in Mining: Mental Health and Our Family

Partners in Mining - Mental Health and Our Family

Katie McGill, Program ManagerMay 2014

Overview

• Why are families important to mental health?• Why are they important to miners?• What opportunities exist to support mining families? • Partners in Mining- an example of a family focused

mental health program supported by the mining industry and mining stakeholders

Definitions– Mental health:

• Feeling, thinking and acting well enough to realise our potential, cope with normal stressors, live and work fruitfully, and make a positive contribution to society (WHO).

• that is, it is more than the absence of disease

– Mental health problems and mental illness: • Difficulties with feelings, thoughts and behaviours- which

everyone will experience at some stage;• A diagnosis of mental illness will be given when these difficulties

have been around for a specific period of time, when they present in combination and when they impact on daily living

So…Mental Wellbeing Continuum

Optimal wellbeing --------------------------------------- Minimal mental wellbeing(flourishing) (languishing)

Mental Illness Continuum

Minimal mental illness ------------------------------------- Maximal mental illness

Optimal mental wellbeing

Minimal mental wellbeing

Maximal mental illness

e.g. Worker with high level of wellbeing and no mental illness

Minimal mental illness

e.g. Worker with high level of wellbeing but has a diagnosis of mental illness

e.g. Worker experiencing a mental illness with low wellbeing

e.g. Worker with no diagnosable mental illness but low level wellbeing

Every year, one in five…

In a lifetime, nearly half…

Families and mental health

• Are our day to day companions.• Influence how we live our life (big picture and small

picture). • Influence our mental health…they usually provide

the most support…but also have the greatest capacity to cause stress.

My society

My community

My immediate environment

Things about me

My mental health

Family

What about mining families?

• While we still don’t know the exact prevalence of mental ill-health in miners and their families, we do know that the lifestyle that can be associated with mine work can pose specific challenges for mental health and family relationships…

Mining families…

• In addition to usual relationship pressures (e.g. child rearing, money, household responsibilities, intimacy, life goals), mining families also often need to navigate…

Mining work features Potential impact on mental health Family issues that have to be negotiated

Shift work and FIFO Risk of fatigueRisk of disconnection from family and friends

Family routinesHousehold division of labourCapacity to attend family events

Male dominant work culture Less likely to seek support from treatment servicesPotentially strong peer culture

May influence how problems are approached in the family setting

Fit between work, skills, interest and reimbursement

If there is a lack of fit, mental health can suffer and it can make it difficult to make other career choices

Family lifestyle will be influenced by financial comfort

The ‘boom and bust’ cycle Need to be able to ‘ride the waves’ or have ‘back up’ options

Family lifestyle will be influenced by phase of cycle

And only 1/3 of people access treatment

What can I do? Feeling Thinking Social/ Behaviours Meaning

Spend time together on something enjoyable to both/all

Problem solving- working through difficulties constructively

Have a family routine, including time together e.g. family dinner

Having shared life goals

Being there when needed

Looking for what we appreciate about the other(s)

Doing something as a team e.g. soccer

Having shared values (or respect when they are not shared)

Showing we care- words, actions

Keeping family on the agenda

Celebrating together

Family rituals (e.g. holidays)

And when they are struggling…

• Name what we can see that worries us• Find out what they think• Talk about options to improve things• Encourage help seeking• Support activities that are aimed at getting back on

top of stuff• Look after yourself

What can the workplace or industry do?

• Recognise the role of family in workers’ wellbeing• Look for opportunities for events that engage miners

and their families• Flexibility in negotiating work arrangements to allow

support of family connections• Consider what support can be offered or facilitated

when a family member is unwell

An example- Partners in Mining

• HIMH working with Coal Services Health and local Hunter Valley mining companies and CFMEU to make available a group education and support program for local miners or family members who support a person with depression.

• Funded through Coal Services Health and Safety Trust.

What is Partners in Mining?

• Based on the nationally disseminated Partners in Depression program.

• A group education program for people who support a person with depression.

People supporting a person with depression report significant psychological distress themselves

Significant impact on psychological distress

Baseline Post Program10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Low (n=193)Medium (n=347)High (n=62)

Partners in Mining adaptation

• Adapted for mining communities, informed by consultation with mining stakeholders.

• Need to consider impact of mining lifestyle, willingness to attend, how to promote and ways to address challenges to attendance.

Partners in Mining plan• Will be training Coal Services Health staff to deliver the

program next month.• Will support Coal Services Health to roll out the program from

July. • Will start by working specifically with two mining companies,

CFMEU and Coal Services Health for promotion.• As we come to better understand the interest in and demand

for the program and the sorts of issues that emerge from this approach, we will look to make it available more widely.

Partners in Mining evaluation• All participants will be invited to complete a short

questionnaire before and after attending the program so we can identify: – Impact on their own health and wellbeing– The best ways to promote this sort of program– How the program can be improved– The best ways for this sort of program to be made available

in the future.

In conclusion• When we have good mental health, we function at our

best. • Families are key influences on our mental health. • Families can be key partners in supporting workers. • Sometimes we will need to support workers to support

their families. • Look for the opportunities to strengthen family

connections.

More information• About Partners in Depression, go to

www.partnersindepression.com.au

• About Partners in Mining, go to www.himh.org.au • Or contact me- [email protected]