JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Western Australia’s peak resources sector body has welcomed news of grants to support suicide prevention training in remote and regional Western Australia.
Western Australian Mental Health Minister Andrea Mitchell on Monday announced a A$560 000 grant for suicide prevention training, targeting high-risk groups, such as Aboriginal communities, people in regional areas, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and/or intersex populations, and young people, among others.
“Access to funding will equip communities and mental health services with essential skills to support at risk groups in key areas,” said Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia CEO Reg Howard-Smith.
“It is pleasing to see state government backing the Western Australian suicide prevention strategy with funding to ensure ongoing implementation.”
Howard-Smith said access to robust data to identify gaps and areas of need should continue to guide the work into the future.
“We know from the available data that regional populations are in need of further support and suicide prevention training is an important step.”
Howard-Smith said government should continue to fund work and collaborate with stakeholders to improve access to mental health support services throughout the state.
“Mining companies have long-recognised the importance of employee mental and physical wellbeing through various training and support services.
“However, mental health issues are a societal matter that all of industry, the community and government should be working together to address.”
Last year, a Western Australia Parliamentary committee was formed to probe the mental health impact of fly-in, fly-out (Fifo) work practices in the resources industry, prompted by a string of suicides among Fifo workers.