Why Invest in Mental Health
For many of us 2020 has been a year filled with prolonged uncertainty that has triggered anxiety, fatigue and other mental health issues. The "shadow pandemic", as termed by Professor Hickie, a former Mental Health Commissioner in a recent ABC interview is not expected to peak until the second half of next year.
"Unlike the virus, you don't get sick in seven to 14 days. The factors accumulate," Professor Hickie said.
"We need investment, it needs to happen at scale and it needs to happen with real urgency, just like we saw for the physical effects of the virus when everyone was very quick to act.
"We cannot afford to wait another year...and then start after we start to see all the adverse consequences."
How does mental health impact the workplace?
The direct economic costs of mental ill-health and suicide in Australia are estimated at $43–$70 billion in 2018-19. These estimates include: (Productivity Commission Report, Nov 2020)
Direct expenditure on healthcare and other supports and services ($16 billion)
Lower economic participation and lost productivity ($12–$39 billion)
Informal care provided by family and friends ($15 billion)
Mental health injuries now account for approximately 12% of all workers’ compensation claims in Victoria
Healthy workers are nearly three times more productive than unhealthy workers
Three in five Victorian employees say they would consider an employer’s attitude to health when looking for a new job
For every $1 invested in successful mental health initiatives, businesses see an average of $2.30 return on investment (2014 PwC Report).
Investment into mental health is important now in order to prevent negative impacts that will cost us later. Let’s have a look at some tools and resources that can help businesses get on the right foot.
1. Prioritise preventative mental health approaches
We all have mental health and we all need to look after it. Stigma is one of the main barriers that stop people from accessing help early. Making time to talk about this and check in on your employees and yourself regularly will help to normalise mental health and make it easier for people to take a proactive approach to prevention. You may want to check out resources like Smiling Mind, one of Australia’s number one mindfulness apps offering hundreds of free meditations, activities, tools and resources that help maintain positive mental health.
2. Know the risks and create a mentally healthy workplace with WorkWell
The free WorkWell Toolkit by WorkSafe Vic gives you a step-by-step guide to creating a mentally healthy workplace. It uses a step by step approach to help business leaders identify and manage these common mental health hazards in the workplace:
Job demands which are too high or low
Low level of job control
Poor support
Poorly managed organisational change
Poor organisational justice
Lack of recognition and reward
Low role clarity
Poor workplace relationships
Remote and isolated work
Violent or traumatic events
Poor environmental conditions
3. Get a Mental Health Check from the Victorian Chamber of Commerce
Victorian Chamber of Commerce Members can access Mental Health Checks to measure how mentally healthy your workplace is. They then work with your team to identify any mental health priorities for the business to focus on using evidence that gather on site. They then design interventions that help create a supportive, responsive and productive working environment that benefits everyone. The strategies developed under the Mental Health Check program are tailored to your unique team environment and budget requirements.
Finally, If you need someone to talk to, call:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
SANE Australia on 1800 18 7263
Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
Headspace on 1800 650 890
QLife on 1800 184 527
Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) on 1800 008 774
Randi Wagner
Place Engagement & Activation Officer