Seafood Industry Australia (SAI) and Women in Seafood Australasia (WISA) have teamed up to launch a mental health and well-being pilot programme for commercial seafood industry workers.
Supported by AUS$600k in government funding, the Stay Afloat Australia trial has seen the appointment of three ‘trusted advocates’ in the targeted locations of Darwin in NT, Lakes Entrance, Victoria and Newcastle, NSW.
SIA chief executive officer, Veronica Papacosta, said research had shown Australia’s commercial fishers experience twice the rate of psychological stress of any other sector. “We understand that the pressures our fishers face are unique to this industry, however a third of fishers who were suffering haven’t reached out for support because they felt health professionals wouldn’t understand them.”
The trusted advocates are local industry members who have undergone mental health first aid training. They will provide their colleagues with information and referrals to local support services and coordinate activities to build awareness of and reduce the stigma of mental illness within their communities.
SIA will begin training industry members to be trusted advocates this year alongside providing a series of grants to fund events promoting good mental health with speakers talking about their experiences.
