The researcher noted these rates of mental illness among miners in Virginia "far exceeded those documented in coal mining populations internationally." (Credit: Rasta777/Shutterstock.com)
As the business world increasingly recognizes mental health as critical to an employee's overall health, research shows more than one-third of coal miners, both current and former ones diagnosed with black lung, are struggling with depression, the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine reported. Further, more than 1-in-10 have recently considered suicide.
The study, conducted by the Black Lung Clinic at Stone Mount Health Services in Virginia, is prompting calls for more mental health resources and treatment for coal miners. The researchers are pushing for further studies on potential contributing factors, including social determinants of health, substance use and workplace safety.
"Although coal mining is on the decline, the rates of black lung in Southwest Virginia continue to increase. Coal miners in Central Appalachia face disparities in health related to a range of complex social, economic, occupational and behavioral factors," researcher Drew Harris, MD, a pulmonary medicine expert at UVA Health, said in a release. "This study highlights the unrecognized crisis of mental illness in miners that warrants urgent attention, resources and expanded care."
In excess of 2,800 miners took part in the voluntary survey, which found that slightly more than 38% of miners had symptoms consistent with major depressive disorder and almost 39% had clinically significant anxiety. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder were reported by slightly more than a quarter of respondents. The researcher noted these rates of mental illness among miners in Virginia "far exceeded those documented in coal mining populations internationally."
In addition to impacting a patient's quality of life, depression and other mental health issues can reduce the likelihood they will stick with medications, UVA reported.
"The rates of mental illness identified in this large population of U.S. coal miners is shocking," Harris said. "Improved screening and treatment of mental illness in this population is an urgent, unmet need that warrants urgent action."
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