Workplace Mental Health
Promoting and supporting good workplace mental health
December – Mental Health First Aid Officer Training
The Mining and Quarrying Occupational Health and Safety Committee is pleased to announce the release of our Fully Funded Accredited Mental Health First Aid Officer Training in the first week of December.
MAQOHSC continues to support industry and promote the importance of workplace mental health and is committed to supporting industry with high quality evidence based funded projects, programs and training.
South Australian Mines and Quarries, will be directly supported to increase and promote good workplace mental health, through funded dedicated training for workers or nominated staff to become workplace accredited mental health first aid officers.
Mines and Quarries can nominate workers to complete Accredited Mental Health First Aid Officer training and then appoint them in the workplace to:
- Promote positive mental health in the workplace to all workers
- Provide mental health guidance material to workers
- Complete tool box and information talks on mental health topics
- Provide mental health first aid within their worksite to workers as needed, at their level of competence and training
- Assist workers and escalate any mental health matters if required in a prompt and appropriate manner according to their relevant workplace policy and procedures.
For further information or to make an enrolment please telephone 8204 9842 or email maqohsc@sa.gov.au
Numbers are limited.
Guidelines for Mental Health First Aid
Further assistance in providing mental health first aid in the form of downloadable guidelines have been made available courtesy of Mental Health First Aid Australia.
These guides have been developed by a panel of experts to assist in providing first aid to a range of developing mental disorders and mental health crisis situations. Click on Guidelines below:
MHFA Depression Guidelines 2008
MHFA Suicide Guidelines Revised 2014
MHFA Adult Trauma Guidelines 2008
MHFA Problem Drug Use Guidelines 2009
MHFA Communication with Adolescents Guidelines 2014
MHFA Eating Disorders Guidelines 2008
MHFA Child Trauma Guidelines 2008
MHFA Problem Alcohol Guidelines Use 2009
These guidelines are designed to help provide first aid to someone who is experiencing a mental health problem.
The role of the first aider is to assist the person until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves.
More Guidelines are available from Mental Health First Aid Australia.
Mental Health Training
South Australia’s mines and quarries are being offered fully funded mental health and workplace resilience training to improve workplace culture and reduce the stigma of mental illness often associated with the sector.
The Mental Health and Workplace Resilience Training Program is fully funded by the Mining and Quarrying Occupational Health and Safety Committee and will be rolled out across the state through a joint initiative with Mining Family Matters.
One day workshops will be held across regional South Australia from mid 2018.
To register your interest please phone us on 8204 9842 or email maqohsc@sa.gov.au
Terms and conditions apply.
MAQOHSC Funded Mental Health Projects
Rock Solid Suicide Prevention Program
“Rock Solid Suicide Prevention Guide”
The guide aims to build the emotional resilience and prevent suicide among rural and remote, fly in fly out workers in the mining and quarrying industry.
The guide also provides families with practical strategies to survive and thrive when experiencing the challenges of rural and remote work, working away, long hours on the job or shift work.
The “Rock Solid” program won the South Australian Regional Award for Health, and was a winner of the coveted Australian Mining Prospect Award for Community Interaction.
As part of the funded program a suicide prevention and emotional resilience guide was provided free to all South Australian mine workers.
More self-help books and guides for families in mining are available from Mining Family Matters http://www.miningfm.com.au/shop/shop-2.html
Mental Health First Aid Skilled Workplace
MAQOHSC are pleased to announce that we have again been awarded the Mental Health First Aid Skilled Workplace Gold Badge
MAQOHSC have maintained this accreditation because we are committed and support the importance of mental health in all South Australian mines and quarries.
MAQOHSC recognises the lack of knowledge regarding mental health issues as well as long standing stigmatising attitudes about mental illness.
Negative attitudes to mental health may prevent people from seeking help early, seeking the best sort of help and also providing appropriate support to work colleagues simply because they do not know how.
To provide support to all South Australian mine and quarry workplaces and workers, MAQOHSC ‘mental health first aid officers’ are available to assist your workplace.
Good mental health is inclusive to workplace safety and helps to:
- More fully enjoy and appreciate the people and environment around us.
- Use our abilities to the fullest.
- Respond better to stresses and challenges within daily life.
- Be more creative.
