Taking Care of Your Most Important Business Asset
During these challenging times, as a local business owner, operator or manager, you need to take care of your most important business asset – YOU!
There are a wide variety of resources and contacts that can support you during these challenging and changing times. Read on to learn more about some of these and choose an option that suits you and your business.
Ahead for Business
Developed by Everymind and the Icare foundation, Aheadforbusiness.org.au provides simple, actionable steps that you can follow to help support your mental health and wellbeing. The website takes you through 5 key areas for action:
Assess your situation with a two minute business stress survey and complete a mental health check, completing these provides personalised recommendations about tips, tools and programs to suit your needs
Learn how to help yourself – simple steps to enhance your wellbeing and reduce your stress
Enable your business – identify risks and hazards and then what you can do to address them
Access support – links and contacts for a range of health and business professionals
Develop a plan – bring together all the information to make a mentally healthy business
Ahead for Business also offers an app to help you set your goals, track your stress and get ahead for business.
Smiling Mind for Small Businesses
Smiling Mind wants to help every mind thrive with accessible life-long tools to support healthy minds. In the specific section for small business, the Smiling Minds app provides a program for small business owners and their staff.
You’ll find meditations and activities to support your mental wellbeing and bring some balance back into your life.
Head to Health
Head to Health has been developed by the Australian Government to connect you with a range of digital resources to support your mental health and wellbeing across a wide range of situations.
A section has been devoted to Covid 19, but Head to Health also brings together apps, online programs, online forums and phone services, as well as a range of digital information resources.
Whether you are trying to improve your own sense of wellbeing, looking for help with something that is bothering you, or helping someone you care about—Head to Health is a good place to start.
Heads Up
Heads Up is all about giving individuals and businesses the tools to create more mentally healthy workplaces.
It encourages everyone in the workplace to play their part in creating a mentally healthy working environment, take care of their own mental health, and look out for their colleagues. This website provides a wide range of resources, information and advice for individuals and organisations – all of which are designed to offer simple, practical and, importantly, achievable guidance.
You can also create an action plan that’s tailored for your business. This interactive tool will help you define and prioritise your goals, identify risk areas and take a step-by-step approach to creating a mentally healthy workplace.
Beyond Blue
Beyond Blue provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live.
The Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service provides phone support, web chat support, an online community and crisis support.
Susan Beniston
Visitor Servicing & Development Officer
Who to call to get help
There are plenty of ways to be supported if you are feeling anxious or uncertain.
Lifeline Australia
13 11 14 (24 hours/7 days)
Text: 0477 13 11 14 (6pm – midnight AEDT, 7 nights)
Chat online: www.lifeline.org.au/crisis-chat (7pm - midnight, 7 nights)
Beyond Blue
1800 512 348
Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service.
Beyond Blue Support Service offers short term counselling and referrals by phone and webchat on 1300 22 4636
Headspace
1800 650 893
Online and webchat support and counselling for 12-25 year olds, their family and friends.
Care in Mind
1300 096 269 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
Online and phone counselling for people living, working, or studying in Melbourne's northern, central, and western suburbs.
MensLine
1300 78 99 78 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
Professional telephone and online support and information service for Australian men.
Mindspot
1800 61 44 34 (8am - 8pm, Monday - Friday; 8am-6pm, Saturday)
Free telephone and online service for people with stress, worry, anxiety, low mood or depression. It provides online assessment and treatment for anxiety and depression and can help you find local services.
Suicide Call Back Service
1300 659 467 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
Mental health support, call back service or online