Workplace Mental Health
Work can be stressful. Long hours, shift work, and the stress of meeting deadlines can affect mental health.
While some stress is normal, experiencing high levels of stress over a long period can significantly affect your mental health.
Not only are there social and financial costs for affected workers, but mental illness caused by an unhealthy workplace is costly for employers. It leads to higher rates of absenteeism, lower productivity, high staff turnover, risk of injury, and workers’ compensation claims.
Workers who feel their workplace is mentally unhealthy are four times more likely to take a day off than workers with employers who provide a mentally healthy workplace. There are many steps employers can take to create a mentally healthy and supportive workplace, potentially reducing these costs.
A whopping 91% of Australian workers value workplace mental health. However, only 52% believe that their workplace is mentally healthy.
Mentally healthy workplaces are those where:
Management commit to creating a healthy workplace, and implement policies, procedures and practices that support mental health
Staff have input into workplace mental health initiatives
Stigma surrounding mental health is addressed and reduced
Staff feel physically safe
Staff have regular work hours.
What are some workplace mental health initiatives you have found helpful or would like to see in your workplace?
For assistance in accessing counselling and psychology services, or if you would like to use the Navicare Telehealth room for your appointment, call Kelly at the Navicare office on 0477 869 847, or (07) 4941 9784.