The Seven Core Problems Every Organisation Must Address When Managing Mental Health in the Workplace PROGRAM BY TESS HOWELLS A GUIDE for HR and Line Managers
Mental illness has been identified by the World Health Organisation as the fourth leading cause of disease burden in the world, and it is predicted that by 2020 just four years away it will be second only to cardio-vascular disease. In any twelve month period, approximately one in five Australians will suffer from a mental illness and many of them will be in your workplaces. Workplace safety legislation requires employers to protect the psychological health and wellbeing of their employees, but many managers tell me they feel ill-equipped to identify and effectively manage workers with mental health issues. At Thrive! Positive Psychology we understand the legislative, economic, social and cultural factors impacting your business and employees, and we have spent many years researching the factors that contribute to sustainable wellbeing. This guide has been designed to assist HR managers, operational managers, supervisors and leaders understand the seven fundamental problems that Australian organisations face when dealing with mental health issues in the workplace. The Costs to Australian Industry of NOT Addressing Mental Illness Compensation Claims Absenteeism Presenteeism Total cost: $145.9 million $ 4.7 billion $ 6.1 billion $ 10.9 billion per year For every dollar spent on effective mental health actions, around $2.30 is returned in benefits to the organisation. And for smaller organisations the ROI can be as much as $15 for each dollar invested. PwC/beyondblue/NMHC 2014 Problem #1: Loss of Productivity Workers who are stressed, anxious or depressed have difficulty concentrating on tasks, are often sleep-deprived and low in motivation. The impact of depression alone in the Australian workplace leads to: Over six million working days lost each year Three to four days off work per month for each person suffering depression 12 million days of reduced productivity each year through absenteeism or presenteeism* * being present at work, but not functioning well Early identification and intervention of problems is important. Managers need to be properly trained to recognise mental health issues and to know what steps to take next. At Thrive! we provide workplace assessments and training to help organisations implement effective working practices including: problems and monitor effectiveness of interventions workplace performance issues early recovery processes for your employees presenteeism
Problem #2: Lack of Skills to Identify and Manage Mental Health Problems Many Managers report feeling uncomfortable about talking with employees about mental health issues and are sometimes concerned that: Problem #3: Loss of Talent; Recruitment & Retraining Costs balance and will leave organisations which they feel do not support their healthy lifestyles. They will offend the employee They will breach confidentiality They will make vulnerable people feel worse In the current economic climate, organisations need the best human capital to gain the edge on their competitors. In addition, customers increasingly prefer to support businesses that show they care about their employees. Creating a workplace culture that encourages open discussion of mental illness is an important first step and Thrive! can assist managers to: mental illness person and do no harm mental illness Talent loss, retraining and recruitment costs place a significant burden on organisational resources and performance. Providing the right support services for employees experiencing mental health and workplace performance issues is therefore essential, which is why at Thrive! we help organisations: appropriate support services and processes to assist people who are experiencing periods of ill health employees feel comfortable disclosing issues and accepting help during exit interviews to help reduce talent loss and increase staff retention
Problem #4: Exposure to Potential Litigation Legislation prohibits discrimination against a person with a mental illness and requires employers to ensure that employees have a psychologically as well as physically safe work environment. Failure to comply with legislated responsibilities or breaching the rights of employees can lead to potential and costly, (financial and in terms of reputation) litigation. Problem #5: Lack of Understanding of Workplace Factors that Contribute to Poor Mental Health Poor work design can contribute to stress. Stress that is prolonged may develop into mental illness, particularly anxiety disorders and depression. At Thrive! we help organisations ensure that their current policies for dealing with mental illness and creating a safe working environment meet the requirements of current legislation. While a simple needs assessment can identify policy gaps, our training programs can ensure that managers are trained to know: mental health risks to mental health including bullying, poor supervision, inadequate training and goals for achieving optimal mental health Research shows that changing and monitoring work design can significantly reduce stress, increase employee engagement and improve improve workplace performance include: At Thrive! we help organisations understand the factors that contribute to poor workplace mental health. As a result, Managers can better understand employee behaviour and work needs, and provide arrangements to better support employees needs.
Problem #6: Enhance and Optimise Mental Health in the Workplace Many Managers with the best of intentions have sometimes implemented programs that they hope will improve mental health, engagement and productivity and have then been disappointed by either the lack of uptake, positive results or both. At Thrive! all of our services and programs have been thoroughly researched and developed by psychologists, so that you can be assured they are: research in neuroscience, quantum physics and functional medicine Problem #7: Mental Health and Wellbeing is such to Start! The field of mental health and psychological difference to the health and wellbeing of your expects you to be a psychologist, and you may find that you know a little more than you may have thought, since psychology is really the study of human behaviour. You don t have to know it all and you don t have to get it all done at once. At Thrive! we have done a lot of the work for you by providing: own comprehensive workplace mental health plan implementation of your plan organisation, positive psychology, neuroscience, nutrition programmes with cutting edge strategies expertise
The Thrive! Approach to Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Thrive! Positive Psychology and Wellbeing was created in response to the rising epidemic of mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety that are currently appearing in the workplace. At Thrive! we understand the legislative, economic, social and cultural factors that are impacting your business and employees, which is why we provide and deliver a range of workplace services and training programs to help support your organisation navigate and thrive when dealing with these complex and challenging issues. We adopt an evidence-based, comprehensive and holistic approach to mental health from low functioning through to optimal functioning and support you in implementing your plan in an integrated, staged approach: A Comprehensive Mental Health Model LANGUISHING Poor mental health SURVIVING Moderate mental health THRIVING Optimal mental health Phase 1 - Compliance Phase 2 - Prevention Phase 3 - We are the developer of Australia s first Evidenced Based, Holistic Mental Health and Wellbeing training program. We work with both large and small organisations to equip managers, leaders, supervisors and teams with the skills, resources, knowledge and awareness to create and maintain happy, healthy and productive workplaces. Who we work with: What we offer:
Fully Integrated Approach to Workplace Mental Health While a number of health agencies now provide low-cost, generic, and off the shelf programs to address basic mental health requirements of employees and managers, at Thrive! we know that improving workplace performance and productivity is not just about repairing sick workers It requires a fully integrated, holistic and positive approach that focuses on preventing workplace issues and illness in the first place. At Thrive! all of our training programs and consulting services are designed to help organisations gain the following additional benefits: traditional medical model of mental health that just deals with sickness, and instead provides strategies and insight to prevent poor workplace health in the first place. psychologist using the latest, evidence based research. This ultimately means that your organisation will have access to the latest tools and strategies, resulting in better uptake of training and more significant improvements. helps organisations navigate the full spectrum of health and wellbeing from Compliance measures, to Prevention, through to and can help workers move from states of languishing to thriving. helps employees create greater levels of engagement, which results in increased creativity, productivity and performance. As workplace environments are enriched - magic happens. I am a positive psychologist who is passionate about helping people live the best, happiest, most meaningful lives that are possible for them. Having had a long-held interest in the science of happiness, neuroscience, ethics, nutritional and environmental medicine, I have worked extensively across Australia with public, private, not-for-profit and community managed organisations that were often dealing with problems. For many years I have been inspired by the work of that focuses on the factors that contribute to living our lives well, rather than focusing on problems. This approach has laid the foundation for my own personal philosophy and approach to working with both individuals and organisations and is the reason why my clients experience such transformational results.
How Ready Am I? - Checklist I know the legislated rights and responsibilities for employers and employees relating to workplace mental health I know what to do to reduce workplace job stress I can identify the signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress I am confident with my skills to approach a mentally unwell worker I would know what to do if someone in my workplace was suicidal I understand different mental health professionals roles I know what I can do to optimise my employees mental health and wellbeing I understand what is meant by a holistic, integrated approach to mental health in the workplace Book Your Complimentary 30 Minute Organisational Mental Health Consultation Today* (Valued at $133) responsible for employee health and wellbeing in your organisation and conduct a more detailed needs analysis to help identify problems and areas where you may be able to improve performance, wellbeing and productivity in your organisation. Call us on 0498 649 818 or email tess@tesshowells.com.au *Please contact our office to confirm if your organisation qualifies for this complimentary consultation. Thrive! Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Post Office, Narrawong, Victoria, Australia 3285 Telephone: 0498 649 818 Email: tess@tesshowells.com.au