The Status of Men’s Health and Well Being in WA
Men’s Advisory Network (MAN) are the peak body for all things ‘men and health’.
Their first report on the health and well being of men in WA and the MAN forum report (2013/14) has been rereleased. Download it here and get an easy read snapshot of what’s going on for our guys in WA.
However it is probably no surprise that FIFO gets a mention since 81% of the mining and resource sector workers are male. The report states that the concerns relating to FIFO workers lifestyle are as follows:
- Family/home separation.
- Absent parents and partners.
- Relationship breakdown and isolation.
- Shifting culture – FIFOs are considered ‘temporary’ and generally disliked by the locals, however home is not somewhere they are often enough to carry on with “real life”.
- Young workers straight out of school are ill-equipped and unprepared for the fast lifestyle, high disposable income, macho culture, as well as the high incidence of drug and alcohol use, and high incidences of STDs.
- High stress due to long shift periods, family/home separation, disruptive sleep and fatigue, accommodation and work conditions on-site, and onerous rules that for some FIFO workers created a distinct sense of entrapment.
Some or all of these can impact on men’s health and wellbeing and one of the big issues that came out of the forum and this report is the need to reduce the stigma around seeking help.
FIFO workers can lead the charge and show men it’s OK to get support, seek out the information needed and the services and agencies that can help. Be a role model for your friends, your family, your workmates, your community.