Earlier this month we sat down with Suzanne Desailly, General Manager at MATES in Mining and Energy. In an effort to spread the word about the great work being done by the organisation, we asked Suzanne to offer some insights on the great work they do and the people they support.
In an industry that typically has so many working away from loved ones, one of the greatest challenges is ensuring support through difficult times. Leading companies like Rio Tinto and BHP have prioritised mental health support for a number of years through various programs, but for smaller organisations with fewer resources, having somewhere to turn can literally be life saving.
With suicide is the leading cause of death among people aged 15-44 in Australia — and males consistently accounting for approximately three-quarters of suicide deaths — Suzanne points out the increased risk for males can in part be linked to men generally having lower rates of mental health literacy, help-seeking behaviour and issues related to stigma. At 84% of the workforce, the mining industry in Australia remains heavily male dominated, placing workers in the industry at significant risk.
Suzanne highlighted for us that both MATES in Mining and Energy were initiated from the highly successful MATES in Construction program, an evidence-based workplace suicide prevention model. Both MATES in Mining and Energy began as pilot initiatives (MATES in Mining in 2014 and MATES in Energy in 2018) and have gone on to become large national programs, alongside MATES in Construction.
She goes on to say that the unique demands of the industry include long separations from family and loved ones, isolation, long shift patterns, regular disruptions to routine, and disrupted sleep and variable living standards. The people who benefit from the program are workers on the ground struggling with health issues and/or suicidal ideation.
“The MATES program provides a much-needed bridge between a worker who is struggling and feeling overwhelmed; and the help and support they need.”
— Suzanne Desailly, General Manager at MATES in Mining and Energy.
Starting with their General Awareness Training (GAT), Suzanne informs us MATES in Mining and Energy delivers an integrated program of workforce capacity building and support. Workforce capacity building is stimulated through clear pathways of education, training and support – building communities of MATES who can look out for MATES.
The GAT training 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. Importantly, the training discusses recognition of risk and ability to offer help to individuals experiencing suicidal ideation. From there, they seek volunteers to become “Connectors”.
Connector training is designed to support workplace volunteers to be trained as gatekeepers. Encouraged to take a leadership role in the promotion of a mentally healthier workplace, they use their skills to keep a MATE safe onsite and connect them to help.
As a final component of the program, the 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, responding to persons of concern to develop a contract or a safe plan with the at-risk worker.
MATES also offers critical incident debriefing, postvention support and case management services provided by qualified professionals to further assist workers who are struggling with their mental health and/or suicidal ideation. Workers and their families can also access a dedicated 24/7 Helpline (1300 642 111).
According to Suzanne, MATES in Mining and Energy has delivered training to over 25,000 workers, with a further 210,000 workers trained in the construction industry nationally. She says that while difficult to quantify, the program has saved countless lives over the years – and just one life saved is one less family grieving, one less workplace impacted and one less community left heartbroken.
With a dedicated Academic Reference Group, in June 2021, the MATES model featured in a World Health Organization (WHO) global resource, “LIVE LIFE: An Implementation Guide for Suicide Prevention in Countries”, as an example of best practice. The Guide outlines a range of practical considerations to support effective whole-of-government responses while equally advocating grassroots adaptations that combine multiple stakeholders.
“We are so proud that the World Health Organization chose an Australian program such as ours to demonstrate what can be achieved in suicide prevention by engaging worksites.”
— Suzanne Desailly, General Manager at MATES in Mining and Energy.
You can look out for part 2 of our sit down with Suzanne in our next blog. We dive a little further into MATES in Mining and Energy’s Purpose and Values, Training Programs, and Raising Awareness.
**If reading this article has raised any concerns for you or a loved one, please get in touch via the MATES 24hr Helpline on 1300 642 111 to access support.
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28 Mar 2024