CMEIG set out last year well before Covid-19 to help make a positive impact on mental health issues. Australia’s overall starting point is reasonably strong: we have a suicide rate of 5.7 per 100,000 people compared to the World Health Organisation average of 11.7. Sadly in Australia, 75% of suicides are male, and the construction and mining industry (largely male dominated) has a suicide rate double the average occupational rate.
The Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing industry is regrettably four times higher again – largely attributed to drought. On top of this, Covid-19 has added to the burden. Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention hotline normally received about 2,500 call per day, but as a result of Covid restrictions, the hotline is now getting in excess of 3,000 calls per day, a 30% increase on the same time last year.
That’s about one call every 30 seconds from Australians suffering loneliness and anxiety on the back of the coronavirus crisis.
The causes of suicide are complex. The experts narrow it down to stresses in life; mental and physical illness; drug and alcohol abuse; and poor living conditions.
However, the good news is that CMEIG members are making a difference. Unemployed people have a suicide rate 4.62 times higher than for employed people, so every job our industry provides helps address these issues. It doesn’t have to mean a great investment for the business, with research indicating mentally healthy employees take less days off sick and have higher productivity. Each dollar spent on employee wellbeing is said to generate a $2.30 return. Poor mental health costs Australian businesses $10.9 billion per year in lost productivity, absenteeism and compensation claims.