How FIFO Work Quietly Wrecks Your Mental Health (Regardless of Gender)

We need to talk about the shit no one wants to admit—FIFO work quietly screws with your mental health, and it doesn’t care what’s between your legs. Man, woman, parent, single, new to the game or 15 years deep—if you’re flying in and out, your headspace is under fire.

It doesn’t always hit like a truck. It creeps in.

• A bit more tired than usual

• Snapping over small things

• One more drink to “take the edge off”

• Less sleep, more scrolling

• Sex drive’s gone. Energy’s gone. Motivation’s gone.

You tell yourself, “Just the swing. I’ll bounce back.” But will you?

💥 Here’s what FIFO is really doing to people:

• You’re living two lives. One on-site, one back home—and you feel disconnected from both.

• You miss milestones. Birthdays, school concerts, Sunday arvos with the kids. You’re physically absent and emotionally burnt out when you are home.

• You go numb. You stop caring. You laugh less. You just exist, count down the days, and blow money to feel something.

• You feel pressure to be “grateful.” Because the money’s good, right? So what do you have to complain about? A lot, actually.

Research from Beyond Blue shows FIFO workers experience mental distress 33% more often than the average Aussie.
Add relationship breakdowns, sleep disruption, long shifts, isolation, and substance use to the mix—and it’s no wonder so many are silently drowning.

And yeah—this isn’t just a bloke’s issue anymore. Women in the mining industry are equally exposed, and often twice as isolated, especially on male-dominated sites where support is low and expectations are sky high.

🚨 Warning signs you're not “fine”:

• Drinking more than usual—on-site or at home

• Withdrawing from loved ones or avoiding calls

• Dreading going back to site—more than usual

• Mood swings or losing interest in what used to matter

• Thinking “what’s the point?” more than once

Sound familiar? Then stop brushing it off.

🛠️ What to actually do about it:

• Check in with yourself. Not once a year—every swing.

• Talk to a mate or a pro. You’re not broken, you’re burnt out.

• Cut the shit that’s making it worse—binge drinking, gambling, ghosting the people who care.

• Prioritise downtime that recharges, not numbs.

• Visit YourPrevious24.com for free tools, community, and content that’s built for people in mining—by people who get it.

You maintain gear before it breaks, right?
Start doing the same with your head.

🛠 Mental Maintenance for Mining Workers—All Genders, All Roles.
📍 Get real help now at 👉 YourPrevious24.com

Organizations in Australia that focus on men's mental health include: 

• MensLine Australia: an online counselling and forum for men — call 1300 78 99 78
• Dads In Distress: a peer support for separated dads — call 1300 853 437
• SANE Australia: for people living with a mental illness — call 1800 18 7263 or chat online
• Beyond Blue: has health resources specifically designed for men — call 1300 22 4636