Mental fitness and resilience are both important concepts when it comes to our mental health and well-being. However, there is a key difference between the two. Mental fitness is proactive, meaning that you take action to maintain and improve your mental well-being. Resilience, on the other hand, is reactive. This means that you can only demonstrate resilience as a result of something adverse that you've experienced. What is Mental Fitness? Mental fitness is the ability to manage your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours in a healthy way. It's about having the skills and resources you need to cope with stress, challenges, and adversity. Mental fitness is not just about avoiding mental health problems. It's also about thriving and living a fulfilling…

Mental health is a critical issue in the workplace. One in two of us experience a mental illness throughout our lifetime, and one in five of us in any given year. This means that in a workplace of 100 employees, 20 of them will currently be experiencing a mental illness. Given this staggering statistic, it is concerning to see a large number of managers and leaders don’t know how to effectively address concerns in the workplace. When employees are struggling with their mental health, it can have a significant impact on their work and the people around them. They may be less productivity, higher rates of absenteeism, presenteeism, errors and safety concerns.,. In some cases, mental ill-health may even lead…

It is no secret the past few years have put an extra strain on mental health and well-being across the population. With many crisis services at breaking point, people are looking to alternative sources of support to help them cope, and one of those is online programs and apps. Some studies suggest very few apps available are actually effective, but thankfully, there are a number of reliable and evidence-based apps available to help address a range of mental health concerns. From anxiety and depression to alcohol use and mindfulness, these apps can be a helpful addition to anyone's mental health toolkit. We have put together a list of some of our favourites. WorryTime App The "WorryTime" app by ReachOut Australia…

The National Mental Health Commission released a digital platform to help take the guesswork out of building a mentally healthy workplace This platform curates the latest information and resources to get you up to speed on how to create a mentally healthy workplace. It aims to connect people to the great work and resources already underway. It aims to inspire people to take action and become part of a community of knowledge. More information here. Some examples are: Quality resources - Research-backed resources approved through our quality assurance process. Tailored advice - Filter searches based on your role, organisation size, location, and industry. The basics and beyond - Modules guide you through actions for creating a mentally healthy workplace. Learn…

Safe Work Australia has released a new model Code of Practice which provides guidance on how organisations can best manage psychosocial risks in the workplace. A psychosocial hazard causes harm through stress. If stress is prolonged, frequent, or severe it can cause psychosocial and physical harm Examples of psychosocial injuries may include: Job demands Low job control Poor support Lack of role clarity Poor management (including micromanagement) Inadequate reward and recognition Remote or isolated work Poor physical environment Violence and aggression Bullying Discrimination Harassment Poor workplace relationships Repeated exposure to traumatic events or material Inside this Code of Practice, the laws surrounding psychosocial risks and injuries and how to comply with them are explained, as businesses now have a legal…

Hot off the press!! The latest data set for the National Mental Health and Wellbeing survey has been released for the first time since 2007. The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released the long-awaited study which now gives us 40 years of consistent data regarding mental ill-health across australia. 5554 people took part in this study between 2020-2021, with the study focusing on mental disorders, suicidal behaviours and information on help seeking behaviours and service use. The study showed that 8.6 million people had experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life, compared to 7.3 million people in 2007. This equates to 43.7%! Yes you read that right… nearly one in two of us will have a diagnosable…

Who do you think is responsible for identifying and mitigating the psychosocial risks within a workplace? If you think the responsibility rests solely with the individual, you will be surprised. According to the High Court, the employer has a significant responsibility, and many workplaces are leaving themselves open to potential legal ramifications. Recently, two significant court decisions brought the issue of an employer’s responsibilities in relation to psychological safety to the forefront. When solicitor Zagi Kozarov became so mentally unwell at work she had to quit, her workplace argued it wasn’t their responsibility. She has been awarded $435,000 in damages by the High Court, as a result of winning a psychiatric injury case after her job caused her to develop…