Presentation given at AISA's BrisSec 2019 (www.aisa.org.au) on Mental Health Awareness and the need to support each other better within the local Information Security community.

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MENTAL HEALTH AND THE INFOSEC
COMMUNITY:
WE NEED TO TALK
Simon Harvey

2. Corporate Affairs Made Me Say This
plus, I’m really scared of having to fill out the forms
• All views are my own, based upon
personal observations and experience.
• I am not representing my employer,
any organisation I volunteer for, or
anyone else.
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3. The Lawyers Also Made Me Say This
plus, I’m really scared of having to fill out the legal forms
• I am not a Mental Health/Medical
Professional.
• I’m just a “normal” Security guy …
• … with a current Mental Health First Aid
accreditation (MHFA Australia).
• Advice is general in nature and intended as
such.
• If you are affected by this topic, please
call:
• Your Doctor
• Contacts on the final slide:
• Lifeline
• BeyondBlue
• Headspace (12-25 year olds)
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4. Why is Mental Health an issue?
And why in CyberSecurity?
• 3rd biggest cause of “disease burden” in Australia,
• “cause of Premature Death or Disability”
• just after Cardiovascular and Cancer Disease
• Biggest cause of disability … by far.
• Is it more pronounced because of our …
• Personality Types?
• Nature of the work we do?
• Risk Management?
• Consulting? Ops?
• Sales & Recruitment? Legal?
• Is it the professional pressures?
• Cyber Cyber Cyber Cyber Cyber!
• Organisational Culture? Risk?
• “Why can’t you just …”
• “Why don’t they listen?”
• Supplier/Client Risk and Accountability?
Males Females
Anxiety Disorders 10.8% 17.9%
Depressive/Bipolar
Disorders
5.3% 7.1%
Substance Use
Disorders
7% 3.3%
Common Mental
Illnesses
17.6% 22.3%
SOURCES: ABS.NATIONAL SURVEY OF MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING 2007; AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF HEALTH AND WELFARE STUDY, 2011

5. What is a Mental Health Issue?
How’s that different to a Mental Health Illness?
• Mental Health Problem: decline of “Good” Mental Health
• Symptoms of mental health becoming poorer
• Some symptoms of mental illness
• Mental Illness
• A diagnosable medical condition [by a qualified professional] that causes
disability
• “Disrupts the persons ability to work, carry out daily activities and engage in satisfying
personal relationships” – World Health Organisation
• Affects a person’s thinking, emotional state and behaviour
5SOURCES: ABS.NATIONAL SURVEY OF MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING 2007; AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF HEALTH AND WELFARE STUDY, 2011; MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
AUSTRALIA TRAINING / MANUAL 4TH ED.

6. What is a Mental Health Issue?
Illustrative Examples
• Poor Mental Heath
• Depression
• Suicidal thoughts
• Anxiety
• Psychosis
• Substance use
• Alcohol
• Drugs
• Prescription Meds
• Gambling problems
• Eating disorders
• Mental Illnesses
• Severe depression
• Self-injury
• Suicidal thoughts &
behaviours
• Severe panic attacks
• Post-traumatic events
• Aggressive behaviours
• Severe Psychotic states
• Severe effects from alcohol
use
• Severe effects from drug
use
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 😱
Duration, Frequency and Severity
SOURCE: MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID AUSTRALIA TRAINING / MANUAL 4TH ED.

7. But … the Cybers?
Yes, its about the the resilience of the People in our Organisations.
• People, process and technology
• Pinkerton’s paradox*
• PAE
• PAL
• PFU
• Demoralised? Unfocused?
• mind on “other things”?
• Corporate/organisational culture
• Workplace support
7SOURCE: ERIC PINKERTON, “SATELLITES OF LOVE”, CRIKEYCON 2017
Under resourced
Under funded
Poorly motivated
Disempowered
Underpaid
Mis-focused
Bored

8. So, what’s the Government(s)
doing about it?
Well, so far this week …
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9. and in our Community?
Some examples – a lot is being driven “from the ground up” …
• MHFA Mental Health First Aid Guidelines Booklet
(Amazon Kindle / https://www.mhfa.com.au)
• https://www.osmihelp.org
• Local Community Networks
• AISA
• AusCERT
• Australian Women In Security Network (AWSN)
• With You With Me
• Men's Shed
• Tech. Industry Awareness by Support Providers
• BeyondBlue
• Lifeline
• R U OK?
• Headspace
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10. What can WE do ourselves?
as Individuals, as a Community, as Employers, as Organisations, as a Society?
• Keep an eye out for each other
• Peers, managers, reports, clients, service
providers, colleagues, friends,, everyone.
• Look for changes in people’s behaviour
• Confidentiality and Trust – don’t force
the issue
• It’s not about you/me, its about the
sufferer …
• If you are suffering… don’t be afraid to ask
• Your GP is your best friend here ..
• What should we do more of as an industry?
• Training? Education? People?
• Lets start the conversation… 10SOURCES: RUOK.ORG.AU; MHFA.COM.AU

11. Questions?
Also please add these numbers to your phone – for you and for others
• LifeLine
• 13 11 14
• lifeline.org.au
• Headspace (12-25yo)
• 1800 650 890
• headspace.org.au
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• BeyondBlue
• 1300 22 46 36
• beyondblue.org.au
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Plus: https://www.gofundme.com/mental-wellness-in-infosec-help-one-of-our-own