It is well documented that stigmatized attitudes towards help-seeking and help-offering exist. This is particularly evident in male-dominated industries such as FIFO (fly-in / fly-out) mining. However, to date, no research has sought to understand the specific attitudes that underpin this stigma in the FIFO industry. The current study utilized an online, self-report survey to recruit participants in the Western Australia (WA) FIFO industry. The survey utilized 7 free-text questions to explore what FIFO workers believed about suicide, what would hinder them from help-seeking & help-offering, and what they believed would hinder other FIFO workers from help-seeking / help-offering. Of the 198 responses received, 138 participants met the inclusion criteria (n=138), with 101 males, 37 females and 96 participants identifying as having lived / living experience of suicide. A thematic analysis was utilized to identify key themes and attitudes.
Key Learnings:
- Contrary to current research, negatively perceived masculine attitudes such as stoicism, pride and perceptions of weakness were present, but not key themes.
- Negative repercussions for employment was the primary theme, which included sub-themes such as limiting chances for promotion, dismissal on mental health grounds and being declared not fit for work.
- Lack of confidentiality presented as a key theme, which included sub themes of gossip, trustworthiness and the ramifications of living in a 'tight-knit' community.
- Lack of knowledge was also a key theme, identifying that participants felt they were ill-equipped to engage in conversations about suicide.
- While participants identified that attitudes in the industry were shifting in a positive direction, and mental health literacy was becoming more common, they called on organizations to better equip managers, leaders, and HR personnel to better their systems around acting upon reports of suicidal ideation.
This research challenges current understanding of masculine attitudes towards suicide, and calls to action employers, policy makers and government to better the existing workplace systems designed to respond to disclosures of suicidal ideation, as they are identified as a major deterrent for help-seeking and help-offering behaviors.
Methodology, thematic coding with specific quotes from participants, limitations and directions for future research are discussed.