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Finding Help For Fly-In-Fly-Out Workers

Depression, anxiety, relationship breakdown and are some of the issues facing fly-in-fly-out (or fifo) workers.

With the resources boom of the 1980s, mining has increased to remote parts of Australia and its surrounding oceans. Large scale industry like this requires large workforces. Instead of requiring workers to locate to relocate with their families to permanently live in isolated areas, workers are flown in and out to the areas where they live in especially provided accommodation during the work period.

These unusual working and living conditions can have a very damaging effect on employees.  The growing research into the isolation and other issues facing fly-in-fly-out workers hopes to better understand their experience and develop strategies to maintain the wellbeing of workers and their families.

What we already know is that men experiencing difficulties due to weeks, or even months of isolation in remote, worker communities. Fly-in-fly-out workers can miss family events like birthdays and anniversaries. Being able to telephone or skype with family cannot replace actually being there, especially with children. When workers are back with family, often they are exhausted and placed under additional stress by spending what is supposed to be time-out from their work with full days of family commitment. Partners also experience isolation and even resentment towards their fifo partner for the long absences. Children miss the important bonding

Some workers who admit to problems are reluctant to accept help and support for fear of being considered weak or not up to the job. That impacts on the existing stress and so workers need to develop strong goals to get them through the away period as well as build routines that include healthy diet, relaxation and how to overcome depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions.

Retreat South specialise in intensive one on one therapy programmes for depression, anxiety and even relationship problems. We are here to help people in exceptional situations like the fly-in-fly-out lifestyle by creating exceptional treatment programmes to address a variety of mental health and other problems.

Call us today to talk about how we can help you.

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