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Blueprint for mental health

The release of a Blueprint for Mental Health and Wellbeing by the New South Wales Minerals Council will provide a high level guide to addressing the mental health and wellbeing of employees in NSW?s mining sector.
It was produced by a team of experts at the University of Newcastle and the Hunter Institute of Mental Health and supported by the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER) at the University of Newcastle.
?The most important thing that comes out of our mines are our employees. That?s why the NSW mining industry is working towards world?s best practice to address mental health problems,? NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said. 
?While research suggests mental health issues in our industry are no more prevalent than in the community more broadly, we recognise that the nature and composition of our workforce means implementing proactive measures at industry level can make a real impact.
?The Blueprint will provide companies in the industry with guidance on how to promote being mentally healthy and respond early and effectively to reduce the impact of mental ill-health,? Galilee announced.
Getting on the front foot
?We are serious about tackling mental health in our industry and we?ve already taken steps such as ACARP [Australian Coal Association Research Group] generously providing $350,000 of research funding to the University of Newcastle and the Hunter Institute of Mental Health,? Galilee added.
NSW Mental Health Commissioner John Feneley said that mental health issues need to be addressed by all industries. ?It is wonderful to see NSW Mining getting on the front foot and taking measures to address these challenges,? Fenely said.
The Blueprint comes off the back of the 2012 Mental Health and the NSW Minerals Industry Report and a workshop for senior mine safety representatives, health professionals and researchers hosted by the NSW Minerals Council, NIER, the University of Newcastle and the Hunter Institute of Mental Health.
To view the Blueprint for Mental Health and Wellbeing, visit the NSW Mining website.
Source: NSW Mining

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