Developing a mentally healthy workplace

A mentally healthy workplace benefits your employees and your bottom line. Not sure where to start? Here’s the three critical success factors recommended by an organisation that should know.

According to an ABS study, 45% of Australians between the ages of 16-85 will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime.

It is estimated that untreated mental health conditions cost Australian workplaces approximately $10.9 billion per year. This comprises $4.7 billion in absenteeism, $6.1 billion in presenteeism and $146 million in compensation claims.

Financial impacts aside, the workplace has been identified as a relevant and an appropriate setting to promote and support the health and mental health of workers for several reasons, including:

• ease of access to a large number of people
• existing infrastructures (e.g. communication channels, supportive environment)
• opportunity to tailor interventions to support the needs of specific groups of employees (e.g. shift workers) and within particular industries

A mentally healthy workplace is one that protects and promotes mental health and empowers people to seek help for depression and anxiety, for the benefit of the individual, organisation and community.

For employers, making your workplace mentally healthy benefits staff and your bottom line. But knowing where to start can be challenging.

When developing strategies for a healthy workplace, Beyond Blue recommends three critical success factors:

1. Commitment from business owners and senior leaders
2. Employee participation
3. Ongoing communication

It is also important to implement relevant policies to lay the groundwork in ensuring the success of your strategy.

Every workplace is unique. It’s logical that the best approach around mental health and wellbeing should be tailored to fit your industry, people and operating environment.

That’s where Bare Bones Consulting can help. Our experience spans over 20 years across corporate, blue collar and fly-in fly-out HR environments. We can provide you mental health and wellbeing actions and strategies underpinned by sound policies and procedures that really work. Good for your people and good for your bottom line. Sound good? Damn straight. Call us for a chat or email us here.