Mental Health First Aid Australia have recently released new resources to support Mental Health First Aiders within the workplace. A guide to the role of a MHFAider Building a MHFA network for your workplace A guide to the role of a Mental Health First Aider Truly understand what it means to become a Mental Health First Aider and what is expected of the role. Acting as a point of contact and reassurance for a person who may be experiencing a mental health problem or emotional distress, but it is important to remember that MHFA does not teach a person to become a therapist/counsellor or how to diagnose mental illness. Building a Mental Health First Aider network for your workplace It…

Do you ever come back from a social event (or even during) feeling exhausted, low energized and crave alone time? This may happen due to having a low social battery! The social battery is a good way of conceptualizing a person’s energy for socializing. Some people feel more energized being around other people, while others can be left feeling tired, stressed, and overstimulated. There are a couple of reasons for a depleted social battery; Surrounding yourself with certain types of people and personalities, the duration, size of the group, power imbalances etc. Currently, there are more people than ever experiencing this, as we come back into some sort of normality since the start of the pandemic. People have spent the…

The Mentally Healthy Workplace Alliance has released a series of resources for emerging issues related to COVID-19. The Emerging Issues series provides organisations with insights and tips to address key challenges impacting workplace mental health while also offering guidance and support. Helping people return to workplaces after extended periods of working at home during COVID-19 As staff physically return to the usual workplace with the easing of restrictions, many people may feel “re-entry anxiety” as they return to the office. This guide is designed to help organisations to understand and manage challenges employees returning to work may face. Strategies to support well-being of decision makers through periods of sustained pressure   COVID-19 has massively challenged decision makers as they have had…

Emotions play a critical role in how we live our lives, how we communicate with others and how we make decisions. But how often do we really think about how emotions; understanding + managing them play a role in our work life? First off, having good emotional intelligence goes far beyond benefiting you in the workplace, it is the foundation for living a meaningful life where you can communicate effectively, respond to situations in an appropriate manner and maintain positive relationships. This mentality where leaders, employees and all personnel understand how emotions are expressed and the impact they have on behaviour, is a fundamental part of mentally healthy workplaces. Managers and leaders are entering an era where creating a positive…

Does your workplace deserve recognition as a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Skilled Workplace? The MHFA Skilled Workplace Program celebrates workplaces for their commitment to Mental Health First Aid training. It is a way of recognising organisations across Australia who invest in training their people with mental health first aid skills and also show a strong commitment to integrating MHFA into their culture. The Program attracts workplaces from an array of different industries and sizes. Participating in this program is a clear demonstration of your commitment to building a mentally healthy workplace, both to your staff and your external stakeholders. Why aim apply for recognition? · Celebrating your progress · Reinforcing your commitment · Assisting in communicating a broader vision…

Workplaces routinely identify risks linked to physical safety. Some are minor such as tripping hazards and ergonomic work stations, through to catastrophic risks which are life threatening. For many workplaces though, the same priority level is not applied to employee mental health and wellbeing. Some organisations are increasingly recognising the benefits of looking after and investing in their people and proactively managing risks to mental health. Others are very early on in their journey and in some cases there are organisations who aren’t even interested. Regardless of your current approach to psychosocial safety in the workplace, now it is time to stand up and take notice. In June 2021, ISO 45003 'Psychological health and safety at work: managing psychosocial risks…

Three key things have recently crossed my desk which I thought you might be interested in. South Australia leading the way as first state to adopt a Suicide Prevention Act The South Australian Parliament is the first Australian state to pass a Suicide Prevention Act, marking a national milestone for suicide prevention. This Bill is the first of its kind for any jurisdiction in Australia and is the result of extensive stakeholder and community consultation. It aims to reduce the incidence of suicide in South Australia and to deliver best practice suicide prevention strategies across the state. Not only is this an important piece of legislation for suicide prevention, it serves as a potential model for the Commonwealth and how…

It is an interesting time for Australia with many border restrictions being relaxed and to re-open just in time for Christmas. For those in States who have had lockdowns and restrictions preventing them from entering other parts of Australia this is a welcome move. But for Territories and States who have been Covid free, this is no doubt causing anxiety at the thought of the virus entering your safe bubble. It is a hard pill to swallow to learn to ‘live with the virus’ when you have been virus free. It is normal to feel anxious, nervous or worried about the upcoming border opening and the unknown that brings. For those who have experienced extended lockdowns, you may have had…