Resilience and Mental Health in Mining Pilot Long Application

Macquarie University received funding from ACARP for its Resilience and Mental Health in Mining (RMHM) project to investigate the work-related factors contributing to the resilience of coal mining employees. Resilience, the ability to ‘bounce back’ or recover from adverse or stressful events (Ahern, Kiehl, Sole & Byers, 2006; Windle, 2011), decreases the negative impact of workplace stressors and is associated with increased quality of life, improved health and effective adaptation (Caza & Milton, 2012). The interim RMHM report based on our qualitative research findings highlights a number of factors identified as supporting resilience and mental health of frontline workers, supervisors and managers. We are proceeding to the second phase and conducted a survey-based study to further investigate the effect of these factors and assess their generalizability beyond our interviewees. Building on the findings of our RMHM project, the current application seeks funding to develop and implement a resilience intervention pilot project. To progress this important initiative, our proposed study has the following aims:1.To translate findings from our two-phased mixed method study to develop, implement and evaluate a pilot workplace resilience intervention program that supports and strengthens mine employee psychological resilience and mental health. 2.Based on this pilot evaluation, to provide guidance on the requirements and design features of an effective and scalable resilience intervention program that is specifically tailored to the Australian coal mining industry.Industry BenefitThe outcome of this research can be used by industry to inform organisational and workplace policies and practices to promote resilience, and to help employees manage work stress and change. In collaboration with our ACARP partners and the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), we will ensure our research is designed and implemented to best benefit the Australian coal mining industry and the employees who work in the industry.Anticipated OutcomesBy the end of the project, we expect to:1.Have developed, implemented and evaluated a pilot workplace resilience intervention program that supports and strengthens mine employee psychological resilience and mental health. 2.Have produced clear design parameters for a scalable resilience program that is specifically tailored to the Australian coal mining industry.3.Have developed training materials and resilience development resources that support the coal mining resilience program.