CIM Staff - 09 October 2026

Long stretches away from home and demanding work environments can take a toll on mental health. These challenges may not be new, but the way the mining industry approaches them is certainly changing.

Mine operators are now exploring a range of strategies to support mental health:

• using better data to understand where support is needed;
• supporting emergency response teams;
• addressing the mental-health impacts of fly-in, fly-out work;
• building cultures where people feel safer speaking up; and
• incorporating Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers into employee support.

If you were following the discussions that emerged from the ISSA Mining Safety Conference and the Fatality Prevention Initiative by the CIM Health & Safety Society, you would notice a growing recognition that creating the conditions for a safe workplace can be complex.

People need to recognize when they need support. They need to feel comfortable asking for help, and senior leadership needs to understand how working conditions and workplace culture affect mental well-being.

Ultimately, there’s immense value in sharing what’s working and what isn’t across company boundaries.

For World Mental Health Day, we’ve brought together some resources that explore how mining organizations and professionals are approaching mental health, psychological safety and workplace support.

Read: Mining and Mental Health stories in CIM Magazine

Watch: #TheSafetyShare: Mental Health Awareness

Watch: #TheSafetyShare: Mental Health & Substance Use in the Mining Industry