60% are suffering in silence. It’s time we started listening.
Welcome to ORIEMS FIT RESEARCH DIGEST — where we turn real university research into simple, clear insights anyone can understand.
This week: a 2024 study from the University of Western Australia uncovers a mental health crisis among FIFO construction and mining workers.
👉 At the bottom of this post, you’ll find a link to the original full research report. You can skip our summary, fact-check, or even download the PDF for your own research journey.
❓ Q&A Breakdown of the Study
📅 Who Did This Study and When?
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Conducted in late 2024
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By The University of Western Australia (UWA) and led by Professor Sean Hood
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Commissioned by the WA Mental Health Commission
🌏 Where Was It Done?
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Western Australia, including FIFO workers in construction and mining across remote, regional, and urban sites
👷♂️ Who Was Surveyed?
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2,166 construction and infrastructure workers, including a significant proportion of FIFO employees
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Most were men aged between 25–55, working long rosters away from home
🎯 What Was the Goal?
To uncover:
“How are FIFO workers in WA construction really coping with mental health—and why are so many not speaking up?”
😨 What Did They Find?
🚨 Over 1 in 5 FIFO Workers Have Considered Suicide
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22% of workers said they had thought about taking their own life in the past 12 months
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That’s 10x higher than the national suicide ideation rate
🔇 60% Are Suffering in Silence
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Over 60% of FIFO workers never spoke to anyone at work about how they felt emotionally or mentally
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Many feared:
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Being judged
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Being treated differently
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Or simply not being believed
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🧱 The “Tough Culture” Makes It Worse
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FIFO workers described a culture of silence, where showing stress is seen as weakness
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Many said they wore a “mask” just to get through each shift
😩 Other Common Mental Struggles:
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Ongoing loneliness, especially on night shifts
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Pressure from being away from family for weeks
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Increased alcohol use or self-medication
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A sense of being "replaceable" or “forgotten” by employers
💥 So What?
This isn’t just about being “a bit stressed.”
It’s about real emotional pain being bottled up for months or years—until it becomes a danger to the worker, their family, and their team.
🔌 How EMS Can Help as Part of Daily Care
EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) can’t fix mental health, but it can support physical wellbeing, which is closely tied to mental balance.
🛠 FIFO workers can use EMS to:
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Ease muscle tension from long hours on the tools
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Relieve back, shoulder, or leg pain
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Get small moments of relief and self-care during breaks
Even 15 minutes a day between shifts or before sleep can feel like hitting a “reset” button on your body.
🏆 About ORIEMS FIT
We’re a proud 100% Australian-owned brand, named Product of the Year in both 2024 and 2025.
Our EMS kits are compact and powerful, made for workers like you who need recovery without fuss — whether you’re in a camp room, cabin, or back at home.
🛒 Check product availability here
📘 Research Report Info
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Title: Mental Health and Wellbeing of WA Construction Workers — 2024 Report
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Source: The University of Western Australia (UWA)
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Commissioned by: WA Mental Health Commission
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Direct Link: Read full study
You can download and read the full document or download the PDF for fact-checking and personal research.
📚 About ORIEMS FIT RESEARCH DIGEST
We simplify trustworthy research so you can learn something real every week.
From truck drivers to FIFO workers, our goal is to inspire curiosity and make science feel personal.
We believe learning how your body works—and how to care for it—should be simple and empowering.
💬 Let’s Talk
Have you ever worked FIFO and felt emotionally drained or physically broken?
Have you seen someone suffer in silence?
Leave a comment below.
You never know who else might feel seen by your story.
⚠️ Disclaimer
This blog post is for informational and recreational purposes only. It does not provide medical advice.
Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for any health-related concerns.
🔗 Full disclaimer: https://oriems.fit/blogs/research-digest/disclaimer
