Mental Health In The Workplace

October is mental health month. Mental health in the workplace matters. Good relationships, connecting positively with others, feeling valued, are essential.

Today it is the law for all Australian employers and workplaces to provide safety to all employees from a physical and psychological context. A workplace that is safe and encourages its people to be able to conduct their work in an environment conducive to wellbeing is critical.

Work is beneficial and important for everyone’s psychological and physical wellness. It provides connectivity, self-worth and self esteem, and income.

One person dies by suicide in Australia every 2 to 3 hours, bringing the suicide rate greater than 3,000 people each year. Globally one person dies every 45 seconds, this is nearly 1 million people. Yet suicide is preventable. As a community we have an obligation to be more aware about the signs and symptoms and how to offer support. We can’t stop people from taking their lives but we can try to offer a crutch whilst seeking professional help.

Many, though not all suicides, can be triggered or caused by mental illnesses.

Workplace mental health promotion, illness prevention and reducing stigma through appropriate tailored ongoing evidence-based programs, resources and tools need leadership and commitment for a sustainable long-term attitude and communication, behaviour change, especially in professions and occupations that have a higher risk of safety hazards that can and does have impact others, increasing their risk of suicide.

All workplaces have a critical role and opportunity to make a difference from a human, moral, social and an obvious economic perspective to reducing mental illness and suicidal behaviour, with a whole of life simple compassionate and kind working environment philosophy and way of doing business.

Creating a mentally health workplace

• Have committed, authentic, leadership willing to walk the behaviour and set a culture of compassion care and support of all employees
• Create a positive safe and supportive environment
• Get to know the people beyond job title. Build relationships amongst colleagues
• Consider how we communicate may not always be interpreted as it was meant by the other person
• Celebrate and share wins no matter how small or big
• Laugh
• Learn to listen actively and compassionately –parking personal opinions to one side
• Don’t give advice, it’s not our role to fix other people’s problems – we can’t, don’t have to
• Accept humanness – all of us are flawed, unique, make mistakes, and are not always ok – and that’s ok.
• Acknowledge and validate another person’s challenges and difficulties
• Treatment, help and support is available
• There is nothing to be ashamed of – especially asking for help

By Ingrid Ozols, B.Sc, Grad Dip Bus Mgmt, Grad Dip Mental Health Sciences, Masters in Mental Health Sciences, Grad Dip in Mental Health Recovery & Social Inclusion (UK), Masters in Suicidology, Senior Fellow, Dept of Psychiatry, Melbourne University, 2016 Australian Human Rights Medal Finalist for mental health in the workplace mental health and suicide prevention education, consulting and advocacy. A active lived experience mental health and suicide survivor advocate. 2017 AISRAP (Griffith University) Outstanding Alumni finalist in suicide prevention and industry. DATS is pleased and honoured that Ingrid contributes to Trash Talk.

from DATS http://bit.ly/2xS219M