New working year resolution: Be a mindful employer

Mental illness is common. With one in five Australians affected every year, it’s no surprise many of us will face this challenge at work. As we head into another working year, SANE Australia, the national mental health charity, is urging employers to think about how they can better support their staff at work.

We know that a mentally healthy workplace, that has positive and supportive attitudes to mental illness, is most important in finding and keeping a job. So it’s of great concern to learn that most Australians with a mental illness receive little support or understanding in the workplace,’ says the Executive Director of SANE Australia, Barbara Hocking.

It’s also worrying to find out that many people with a mental illness don’t believe their manager has an understanding of mental illness, ‘ Ms Hocking adds.

Respondents to a recent SANE Australia survey of working life and mental illness overwhelmingly recommended (95%) that employers and managers receive education on mental illness, and how to manage its effects in the workplace.

‘This lack of understanding takes its toll on the individual, colleagues and also the bottom line,’ says Ms Hocking. ‘Research suggests Australian businesses lose up to $6.5 billion every year by failing to respond appropriately when employees experience mental health problems.’

It’s estimated that around 18 million absentee days annually are attributable to untreated mental health problems. Mental health issues have recently overtaken physical injury as the cause of the longest absences from work.

SANE Australia has a new initiative to promote better workplace mental health: Mindful Employer.

Mindful Employer helps managers to create a more positive and supportive workplace, and avoid the costs of not responding appropriately to mental health problems.

The program focuses on mental illness awareness training and the skills to work with, and support, an employee who has or is caring for someone with a mental illness. It provides answers to important questions such as what are the signs of a mental health problem, what to do if you are concerned for a colleague or employee, and how to manage reasonable workplace adjustments.

‘While businesses can have the best intentions, if their employees don’t know how to respond, the end result can be confusing and counter productive. Mindful Employer training increases staff members’ confidence and ability to work with colleagues who are affected, directly or indirectly, by a mental health problem,’ Ms Hocking adds.

To find out more, click on www.mindfulemployer.org

(Source: SANE Australia)