AMMA mental health framework to aid resources and energy sector

A new practical framework has been developed by the Australian Resources and Energy Group AMMA to help resources and energy employees navigate the industry’s distinct workforce mental health challenges, including varying rosters, remote isolation and fly-in, fly-out working arrangements. The Resources and Energy Industry Workforce Mental Health Framework is the latest initiative to assist employees in their shared commitment to building and maintaining mentally healthy workplaces.

The framework further builds on the resources and energy industry’s motivations to drive continual improvement in. workforce mental health policies and initiatives. Organisations are provided with the theoretical tools to break down their workforce mental health and wellness capability from a policy, program and practical perspective. Employers can then benchmark their specific programs and initiatives against the ‘Maturity Scale’, illustrating what actions look like at five different stages, from ‘Compliant’ to ‘Progressive’.

Steve Knott AM, CEO of AMMA, said the industry-specific workforce mental health framework will support employers in understanding how to deal with sector-specific workforce issues. Knott added that the industry’s unique characteristics add to the challenges of building and maintaining mentally healthy workplaces.

“The maturity scale reflects the varying stages of employers as they continue their mental health and wellness journey — from basic compliance and fundamentals, all the way through to being proactive and progressive. As organisations constantly evolve and adapt to changing mental health pressures on their workforces, the programs, actions and initiatives they undertake will be selected based on what is practical and appropriate for their circumstances,” Knott said.

At the heart of this framework are the ‘Organisational Elements’ and ‘Influence Factors’ which outline the sector’s challenges and opportunities relating to mental health. Together this provides a model that employers can use to assess the unique factors creating mental health pressures on their workforces and understand the three elements for taking action — Promote, Protect and Support.

“This allows employers to seek opportunities for improvement, take action to prevent harm and provide support to improve organisational culture and reducing stigma around mental health,” Knott said.

The framework was developed through consultation with leading mental health authorities and professionals within the resources and energy industry, including the AMMA’s Resources and Energy Mental Health Advisory Board. It builds on AMMA last year launching an industry-first online training program for psychological health and safety across resources and energy workplaces.

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