Today, businesses hear more than ever about mental health in the workplace. Yet many businesses are often unsure what role they have to play in fostering wellness among their employees – if one at all. And even among organisations that have the desire to develop initiatives to support and maintain positive mental health outcomes for their employees, most don’t know where to start.
The following collection of resources are designed to help organisations become a mentally healthy workplace; one that protects the mental health of all staff, promotes wellbeing, and supports staff with mental health conditions.
Tips and tools
The following collection of mental health resources, information and advice will help employees and employers understand some common mental health issues in the workplace, and provide practical strategies and support to those who may be experiencing a mental health condition.
Work-related psychological health and safety: A systematic approach to meeting your duties
(Safe Work Australia)
Guidance for anyone who has a WHS duty to prevent and manage harm to workers’ psychological health.
The Australian Workplace Barometer: Report on psychosocial safety climate and worker health
(Safe Work Australia)
Science driven evidence of Australian work conditions and their relationships to workplace health and productivity.
National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace
(Mental Health Commission of Canada)
A set of voluntary guidelines, tools and resources intended to guide organisations in promoting mental health and preventing psychological harm at work.
Tackling work-related stress using the Management Standards approach
(UK HSE)
This workbook helps organisations meet their legal duty to assess work-related stress risks and gives advice and practical guidance on how to manage work-related stress.
Implementing People at Work (risk assessment process)
(WHSQ)
A number of tools and resources are available to assist your organisation to implement People at Work.
Preventing and managing risks to work-related psychological health
(WHSQ)
Explains the different psychosocial hazards and factors in detail and provides example control measures and interventions.
12-part work-related stress tip sheet series
(SafeWork NSW)
12 useful tip sheets for understanding stress, the role of psychosocial risks in stress at work and ways to address risk factors in the workplace.
Mental health training for managers and staff
(Beyond Blue)
Learn the common sources of work-related stress, actions to manage them, and the different roles and responsibilities of people in the workplace
Mental health workplace resources for employers, employees, managers, and small business
(Beyond Blue)
Resources, information and advice for individuals and organisations – designed to be simple, practical and, importantly, achievable.
Developing a workplace mental health strategy: A how-to guide for organisations
(Beyond Blue)
Step-by-step guidance for organisations to develop and implement a tailored mental health and wellbeing strategy for their staff.
Work design
Work design initiatives encourage organisations to think more broadly about work and well-being. Many are based around the idea that organisations should not only do more to protect against psychological harm, but should also strive to provide an environment that fosters the development of positive mental health.
Drawing on decades of research, the following resources show us that good work design practices have positive impacts on individuals, teams and organisations. In implementing these frameworks, organisations can expect to see positive effects on preventing harm, wellbeing, and productivity.
SMART work design model
(Centre for Transformative Work Design)
A framework for designing meaningful and motivating work. Based on decades of research, it identifies five key themes that result in positive outcomes that contribute to creating a thriving organisation.
Thrive at work resources
(Thrive at work)
An integrative framework that unpacks how organisations can support all employees to get well (mitigate illness), stay well (prevent harm) and be the best they can be (promote thriving).
Coronavirus
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly changed the way we live, as well as the way many workplaces operate. The impacts of the outbreak, including physical distancing measures and personal isolation, can make many feel anxious, stressed and worried.
Read about what you can do to look after your mental wellbeing and look out for those around you as employers and employees tackle these problems together.
Coronavirus impacts on my work
(Beyond Blue)
Specific information on the effects of the coronavirus on different workplaces, including essential service workers, managers and business owners, and those working from home.
Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service
(Beyond Blue)
Regularly updated information, advice and strategies to help you manage your wellbeing and mental health during this time. You can also stay up-to-date by joining the email community.
Webinar: Leading Through Crisis – how to have supportive conversations
As a leader, it’s important to recognise when a worker may need to access support. The following webinar provides a framework to help leaders understand the difference between a team member thriving and surviving—and if they are surviving, whether they’re simply going through a bad patch or if they require extra support to manage a mental health issue or illness.
Session outcomes:
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- Understand a framework to recognise the difference between team members who thrive or survive during stress and crisis
- Gain insights around the dos and don’ts of supportive conversations
- Learn practical tools for effective conversations that guide team members towards support
