MENTAL HEALTH IN MINING
Mental health has come a long way in the past 20 years. Where mental illness was once hidden or frowned on, society now accepts it as a common and often treatable condition. By Reinette Lotz, Allied Services Manager at Platinum Health Medical Scheme.
A ccording to the WHO, in 2019, one in every eight people, or 970 million people around the world were living with a mental disorder, with anxiety and depressive disorders the most common. Left undiagnosed and untreated, mental health conditions can prove debilitating or could seriously impact personal lives and work. Prioritising mental health sup- port in mining operations – through awareness, counselling and access to care – is not only a moral impera- tive but a strategic investment in the sustainability of the workforce and the resilience of the communities that depend on them. The importance of mental health is also emphasised in the National Mental Health Policy Framework and Strategic Plan 2023–2030 by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, as well as organised labour. The Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources has also issued a directive to include regular mental health screening at occupational centres to ensure early detection. Interventions to improve the safety of women in mining are also among their 2034 milestones, as the industry strives to realise its ambition of Zero Harm to all. Common mental health concerns in mining The mining sector is characterised by high-stress and potentially haz- ardous environments that can take a toll on workers’ mental wellbeing. Mine workers are often breadwin- ners in their households and their psychological wellbeing directly affects the stability of their families
and the broader social fabric of their communities. In the mining sector, much like in the broader population, the most com- mon mental health issues we see are depression, substance abuse, anxiety and relationship problems. Coming to the fore in recent years are also issues like bullying, harassment and victimisation, while many may also suffer from grief, trauma or post-trau- matic stress disorder (PTSD). A recent study in the South African Journal of Psychiatry assessed 927 mine work- ers and found that 31% experienced moderate to severe psychological distress — indicators consistent with symptoms of anxiety and depression. The research also highlighted a strong association between hazardous alco- hol use and mental health distress. It must be noted that an employee on treatment for a mental health con- dition is much less of a risk than an employee who has not been identified and treated. Programmes (EAPs) pro- vide access to counsellors 24 hours a day, seven days a week, making treatment convenient and accessible. This growing awareness through the EAP campaigns could account for the fact that the bulk of our refer- rals are what we call self-referrals. People know where to access the service and patients would come
Reinette Lotz, Allied Services Manager at Platinum Health Medical Scheme.
and request assistance – both on the Scheme side, but also on the EAP programme side. Referrals also come from GPs at the mines, and from mine HR or management in cases where an employee exhibits problems with work performance, late coming or absenteeism. Mental health treatment can be costly, so many medical schemes limit their benefits to only the prescribed minimum benefits, such as a 21-day in-hospital treatment or a 21-day programme in a rehab facility, or chronic conditions such as bipolar depression. When comparing mental health services, it’s important to check if all mental health conditions are covered, and if patients can be treated on an outpatient basis. We find it is not always beneficial for patients to go to mental health institutions because of personality factors. In the mining environment, we seek alternative treatment options before hospital admission to help normalise the condition and remove the stigma of the patient being removed from their family and community for treatment. l
It must be noted that an employee on treatment for a mental health condition is much less of a risk than an employee who has not been identified and treated.
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