Senior leaders in our Western Australia Iron Ore business, beyondblue representatives and BHP Billiton employees shared personal stories, discussed support resources and made mental wellness pledges at the inaugural Perth Mental Wellness Day.

Held on 22 May the day marked the successful completion of the beyondblue Pilbara Roadshow, supported by BHP Billiton Iron Ore, and offered employees based in Perth the opportunity to attend workshops and connect with additional mental wellness support resources.

Brett Swayn, Vice President of Health, Safety and Environment, hosted the Senior Leader Presentation, which included presentations by Iron Ore President Jimmy Wilson, Mining Area C General Manager Johnny Velloza, Eastern Ridge Manager of Engineering Kobus Groenewald, Western Australia Mental Health Commissioner Tim Marney and beyondblue Head of Resources and Research Nick Arvanitis, and thanked the thousands of employees that had attended the roadshow events held at sites and regional communities for their commitment to supporting better mental wellness for themselves and their workplace.

He added that the roadshow had achieved its purpose of raising awareness of, and remove stigmas often associated with, mental health and wellness while connecting employees and their families to additional resources that will complement the support provided by BHP Billiton to its employees who may be suffering from mental health issues at work or home.

Mr Marney, who is also the Deputy Chairman for beyondblue, said poor mental health is likely to affect one in five Australian workers, which costs the nation A$10.9 billion every year in lost productivity, poor staff morale, absenteeism and poor employee engagement.

He also acknowledged the industry leading efforts being taken by BHP Billiton Iron Ore to foster a mentally healthy workplace, which he explained leads to improved safety and workplace culture.

Other events held as part of the Perth Wellness Day including yoga and mindfulness classes, which empowered employees with tools to boost productivity through mind focus.

For more information on mental wellness resources please visit the Mental Wellness Support page or visit www.beyondblue.org.au.