Mental Wealth
Approximately 1 in 5 Australians will experience a mental illness during the course of a year.
Many more experience feelings of stress or anxiety. In a workplace some stress is reasonable, but it becomes an issue when it is excessive and ongoing.
Learn more about workplace stress
Or you may find that you have some concerns about other areas of health and well-being including poor sleep, your alcohol use, feelings of depression. There are lots of tools available to check in, see how you’re doing and if need be point you in the direction of more resources and support.
Learn more about the tools available
And even if you feel like you’re travelling well it can still be useful to complete a wellness self-assessment. Well-being is about more than just the absence of mental illness, stress and anxiety. It’s about how you function in all areas of your daily life. This tool can help you think about and reflect on areas that might need some attention.
Take a self-assessment now
No matter where you’re sitting on the mental health continuum, it is always helpful to work on taking care of yourself and staying well.
Headsup have created a fantastic resource that provides lots of tips and information:
Tips for improving our mental wealth at work
Other ideas include trying:
- Muscle Relaxation at your desk
- Getting up and moving around every hour
- Establishing a walking group to get out of the office and get moving
- Creating a shared lunch based around healthy food options
- Take some time to practicemindfulness
Internal Supports
- Make a booking with one of our Employee Assistance Program Counsellors by calling our bookings team on 1300 11 44 46.
- Help approaching your Manager
- Make a booking with your GP
- Hello Sunday Morning (reducing alcohol consumption)
- Crisis support numbers
SANE Australia (people living with a mental illness) – call 1800 18 7263.
beyondblue (anyone feeling depressed or anxious) – call 1300 22 4636 or chat online.
Lifeline (anyone having a personal crisis) – call 13 11 14 or chat online.
Suicide Call Back Service (anyone thinking about suicide) – call 1300 659 467.
You may spend a lot of time with your workmates. This puts you in a good position to notice changes in someone’s behaviour or mood, which may indicate that they are not coping. Have you noticed signs that a workmate is behaving differently? Maybe missing deadlines or getting frustrated with tasks or people?
Or have you got a friend or family member who seems to need some help?
If you’re concerned that someone doesn’t quite seem themselves, starting a conversation and checking they’re OK can make a real difference. Having someone show concern can often be a turning point, encouraging them to seek support.
Starting a conversation
Let them know there are supports available:
Internal Supports
- Make a booking with one of our Employee Assistance Program Counsellors by calling our bookings team on 1300 11 44 46.
- Help approaching your Manager
External Supports
- Make a booking with your GP
- Hello Sunday Morning (reducing alcohol consumption)
- Crisis support numbers
SANE Australia (people living with a mental illness) – call 1800 18 7263.
beyondblue (anyone feeling depressed or anxious) – call 1300 22 4636 or chat online.
Lifeline (anyone having a personal crisis) – call 13 11 14 or chat online.
Suicide Call Back Service (anyone thinking about suicide) – call 1300 659 467.
You probably deal with clients who have a mental illness every day, sometimes without realising it. There may be occasions, however, when someone is more severely affected by symptoms. They may seem unreasonably anxious, confused or distressed, difficult to understand, or behaving in an unusual manner. In these circumstances, it is important to know what you can do to communicate effectively in order to help them and help you do your job.
The HELP model has been specially developed to provide a simple blueprint for effective communication in these circumstances.
The HELP model consists of four simple actions:
- Hear
- Empathise
- Limit
- Progress
Find out more about HELP model
Other tools and supports that may help you help a client include:
When we think of health and safety at work, we often think of preventative measures put in place to protect us physically — like the correct way to lift heavy objects, for example. We don’t always factor the emotional toll of work into employee well-being.
However, jobs can have an impact on employee well-being, although it’s often overlooked.
Did you know that behind musculoskeletal disorders, work-related stress is the second most common cause of occupational ill health? It accounts for 37% of all work-related health issues and results in a 45% loss in all working days (Source: HRM Online).
There are lots of tools available to help you promote improved wellbeing amongst your teams and to support those employees who may be experiencing a mental health condition.
While Mental Wealth is focusing on the broader concept of mental health, including wellbeing and improving day to day functioning, in Australia 1 in 5 people experience mental illness in any given year.
And over a lifetime almost half of all Australian adults (45.5%) will experience a mental illness.
This means that you, a colleague or a client is likely to be living with a mental illness right now. The resources available here are most useful in cases where there is a specific diagnosis and you want to know more.
If you’re feeling unwell or worried that something might be wrong, but don’t have a diagnosis you can find more information here
Anxiety
Anxiety facts and checklist
A guide to what works for Anxiety Disorders
Help under medicare
Bipolar
Bipolar facts and checklist
Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder facts and checklist
Depression
Depression symptoms and checklist
A Guide to what works for depression
Types of help available
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder factsheet
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress disorder resources
Psychosis
Psychosis facts and guides
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia facts and guides
Traumatic Events
Traumatic Events facts and guides
Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders explained
There are also some great resources to support diversity and mental illness.