By: Israel Ojoko
22 hours ago
The Minerals Council South Africa is spearheading a targeted campaign to bolster mental health awareness in the mining sector.
This initiative comes in response to the industry’s increasing recognition of the toll that stress, depression, and other mental health conditions exact on mine workers. Long hours, intense labor, harsh environments, and the isolation experienced by many migrant employees have made this sector a hotbed for mental health issues.
Adding fuel to this already volatile situation, societal norms often dissuade men, who make up the majority of the workforce, from openly discussing and addressing their mental health concerns.
22 hours ago
The Minerals Council South Africa is spearheading a targeted campaign to bolster mental health awareness in the mining sector.
This initiative comes in response to the industry’s increasing recognition of the toll that stress, depression, and other mental health conditions exact on mine workers. Long hours, intense labor, harsh environments, and the isolation experienced by many migrant employees have made this sector a hotbed for mental health issues.
Adding fuel to this already volatile situation, societal norms often dissuade men, who make up the majority of the workforce, from openly discussing and addressing their mental health concerns.
Masoyise Health Programme: A Ray of Hope
At the heart of this mental health revolution is the Masoyise Health Programme. Initially designed to address a broad spectrum of health issues, it has recently shifted its focus towards mental health.
The programme’s objective is to ensure industry-wide awareness and access to effective mental health services by 2030. The need for such an initiative has been underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has heightened stress levels among miners due to lockdowns, job insecurity, and the loss of loved ones.
Breaking the Stigma: An Uphill Battle
The Minerals Council hosted its inaugural mental health awareness seminar in October, emphasizing resilience-building strategies to cope with stress, adversity, and trauma inherent in the mining industry.
However, despite the efforts of the council and the mining companies, which have long provided counseling services and access to mental healthcare, mental health awareness still lags behind other health concerns.
One of the most significant hurdles is the stigma associated with admitting mental health issues—a stigma that can only be dismantled through open dialogue and education.
Inspiretek: Aiding Queensland Athletes
In a parallel initiative, Inspiretek has received official backing from the Queensland Government and its Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport to enhance the mental health and wellbeing of young Queensland athletes.
The Inspire Pathways Initiative, a pilot project funded by DTIS, aims to personalize mental health and wellbeing support for these athletes.
The platform offers evidence-based content, education, and support to encourage positive behavioral changes and improve mental health outcomes.
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