Advocates say a Mount Isa yoga program is helping to fill major gaps in outback mental health services, especially for men.Perched atop a rocky outcrop in outback Queensland, Shane Butler sits cross-legged, meditating as the sun sets over his home town.
Fatigued and trying to provide for his family, Mr Butler never spoke about the mental toll of mining in an isolated town."It's an 84-hour week without much break and then you have to balance that with your life, being a good dad, and running a budget — something has to give."According to suicide prevention group Mates In Mining, suicide rates in the mining and construction industry are higher than the general working population.
Mr Butler's budding yoga program "naMANste" is growing in popularity as word spreads among other male miners. Self-described "knockabout" bloke Tony "Tonka" Toholke has lived in the mining town for almost two decades."In personal experience, the existing support for men in the outback is terrible," he said.Mr Toholke said outback mining communities needed "all they could get" when it came to mental health services, particularly for men."I'd encourage anyone to go and have a crack .
It's billed as a 'Disneyland for scientists'.