A well designed workplace should support individual mental health which can lead to reduced absenteeism, increase employee engagement and group productivity. A fundamental requirement for employees to feel engaged, enthusiastic and invested in their work is to feel that their company and leaders care about them. By taking a proactive approach to mental health in the workplace, you are building a platform for a more resilient and innovative workplace.
20% of working age Australians in any given year are experiencing a diagnosable mental illness and 45% will experience this at any one point in their lifetime. Mental health related absenteeism and presenteeism costs Australian business upwards of $10.9 billion per year which is attributed to health expenses, reduced workforce participation and a decrease in productivity. According to SafeWork Australia, 6% of all compensated claims are related to mental health.
Implementing a mentally healthy workplace makes good business sense and this is backed by a survey conducted by Price Waterhouse Coopers in 2013 which demonstrates that taking action in the workplace yields a positive return. The report found that for every dollar invested in effective mental health initiatives, there is an average return on investment of $2.30 with small essential service providers receiving a return of up to $14.5 per $1 spent.
Employers and business owners have a legal responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace. It means that the mental health of employees needs to be regarded the same way as physical safety. Being proactive in creating a psychologically healthy and safe workplace is one of the best steps an organisation and manager can take so that:
Done well, mental health initiatives can position you as an employer of choice. A study conducted by Beyond Blue in which looked at The State of Mental Health in Australian Workplaces revealed that 90% of Australians believe that workplace wellbeing is important yet only 5/10 working Australians believe their workplace is mentally healthy. If you’re looking to win the war for talent, then opening the lines to conversation about mental health, having a mental health strategy and investing in mental health training will strengthen your position as an employer of choice. The culture of workplace wellbeing has many flow-on effects to individuals, businesses and the community.
We spend a third of our lives working and as such, it is vital that our working environment is one that creates opportunities for employees to build positive workplace relationships to assist in negating the impact of stress inside and outside the workplace. A workplace which promotes proactive mental health initiatives helps employees build resilience and makes them feel more socially connected. Having strong resilience is fundamental to maintaining positive strategies for maintaining mental health and in turn physical well being.
An employee who feels valued is happier and more engaged. Creating an inclusive culture that promotes mental well-being provides employees with a sense of empowerment to bring their best selves to work. This is likely to result in improved productivity and decreased absenteeism.
Australians are battling hard with mental health issues with statistics suggesting that over a million over us struggle with depression annually and over 2 million with anxiety. It is estimated that, at any point in time, 1 in 6 working age people will be suffering from mental illness. A further one-sixth of the population will be suffering from symptoms associated with mental ill health, such as worry, sleep problems and fatigue, which, while not meeting criteria for a diagnosed mental illness, will be affecting their ability to function at work.
A mentally healthy workplace is one that encourages open dialogue about mental health amongst its workforce. This creates an opportunity to decrease stigma, increase awareness, promote early help seeking and treatment through access to resources.
The Blended Online MHFA Workplace Course has been adapted from the Standard Mental Health First Aid Course for adults.
Developed in response to COVID-19, the new blended Online MHFA Workplace Course includes two course components.
Self-paced Interactive eLearning
Duration: 5-7 hours
The eLearning course component presents an overview of mental health problems and mental health crises. Please allow 2 weeks for completion.
Instructor-led video conferencing
Duration: 2 x 2.5 hour sessions
The instructor-led sessions provide course participants with an opportunity to revise content covered in the self-paced eLearning program and to consolidate the application of this content with the development of practical skills in a group environment online. Delivered approximately 2 weeks after self-directed learning. Session held one week apart.
Participant numbers:
Minimum of 8, maximum of 12
In this two day course, participants learn the signs and symptoms of mental health problems, where and how to get help and what sort of help has been shown by research to be effective. The program is offered over two days and covers four modules. All participants receive a copy of the MHFA Manual and a Certificate of Completion.
Mental Illness: the prevalence and impact Mental Illness intervention techniques Depression- the signs, symptoms and the risk factors How to intervene when you see signs of depression?
Crisis first aid for panic attacks Crisis first aid after traumatic events First aid for anxiety problems Psychosis: the signs, symptoms and the risk factors How to intervene when you see signs of psychosis?
Crisis first aid for suicidal thoughts and behaviours Crisis first aid for non-suicidal self-injury First aid for depression Anxiety: the signs, symptoms and the risk factors How to intervene when you see signs of anxiety?
Crisis first aid for severe psychotic states First aid for psychosis Substance misuse: the signs, symptoms and the risk factors How to intervene when you see signs of substance abuse? Crisis first aid for severe effects of substance use Crisis first aid for aggressive behaviour First aid for substance use problems
At Employ Health, we understand the business of health and specialise in empowering your workforce to bring their best self to work. We know that it is impossible to separate physical and mental health and are passionate about driving a healthy connection between body and mind. Our training programs aim to equip your workforce with the skills and knowledge to be able to thrive inside and outside the workplace.
We take the success of our partners seriously and so we are in this with you for the long haul. While you are running a marathon, we will act as your support crew, pivoting and responding to the needs of your workforce. We will work with you to understand the specific needs of your business as no two businesses are the same therefore no workplace training program should be either.
We have a team of qualified and dedicated instructors with years of experience developing and delivering workplace mental health and wellbeing programs.
Good work is good for our mental health. We spend at least a third of our lives in the workplace and so the state of our mental health at work matters. Mental health issues can impact a person’s mood, thinking, feelings and behaviour and have been shown to correlate directly with increased absenteeism, presenteeism and decreased productivity. A person may experience work performance limitations such as an inability to concentrate, a lack of stamina and difficulty handling time pressures or multiple tasks. This in turn can impact their relationships within the workplace.
Employers should treat mental illness in the same way as any physical illness and ensure the same level of accommodations are made to ensure an employee can continue working while managing their condition.
Employers also have obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘health’ is defined as both psychological and physical). Employers must provide safe and healthy workplaces, systems of work, monitoring of conditions and provision of information, instruction and supervision so employees can work safely. This includes a safe space where employees can disclose mental health conditions and when it might be affecting their ability to work. If the latter occurs, employers should conduct a risk assessment to determine what reasonable adjustments can be made to ensure the employee can maintain their work safely.
Maintaining a healthy workplace can also require employers to do things like eliminating or minimising common risks to mental health such as bullying, stress, harassment and workplace trauma.
When workers see that their senior leaders are committed to creating a safe and inclusive culture, they may feel more comfortable to discuss and better manage their own mental health.
Build and develop the mental health awareness of workers by making information, tools and support accessible. Better understanding around mental health can build trust between colleagues.
Employees need to be confident that they will not be stigmatised if they admit to having mental health issues. Managers can help by proactively initiating conversations and encouraging the workforce to speak openly about mental health.
Managers should consider mental health training so that employees can be educated around the signs and symptoms and how to best support their employees who are presenting with signs and symptoms of mental health problems. This will make them more comfortable talking about mental health openly with employees.
Many companies use an employee assistance program (EAP) to support workplace mental health. Consistent promotion of this service helps to reduce any fear or stigma around it’s use. Management support could also look like providing employees with the resources and flexibility to be able to access professional help if it is required.
Spotlighting health and wellness initiatives that support mental and physical well-being ensures that employees keep their health at the forefront of their minds. Examples of this include:
Workplace relationships are incredibly important to employee-wellbeing. Employers can help promote social connection by:
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