What does a mentally healthy workplace look like?

If you are a practice owner, then you have a duty under Work Health and Safety Laws to manage the risks to your team’s mental health arising from their work and are legally required to look after your team’s mental health under a variety of laws which include;

• WHS Laws – Providing a physically and mentally safe workplace and managing any risks to the mental health of your team.
• Anti-discrimination laws – preventing discrimination against workers with a mental health condition.
• Privacy Laws – Protecting your worker’s personal information and not disclosing any information regarding their mental health conditions unless they have agreed.
• Fair Work Laws – Not taking any unfair action against someone because of their mental health condition.

If you want to know more about what your Mental Health WHS obligations are you can refer to Safe Work Australia.

In a mentally healthy workplace, people feel supported, feel happy coming to work and feel comfortable talking about mental health with their supervisor or manager and even with the rest of their team. A mentally healthy workplace is generally one in which:

• There is a positive workplace culture and an understanding that mental health is everyone’s responsibility
• There is a pro-active approach towards preventing stress and other risks to mental health as well as managing it
• People feel safe and supported talking about mental health
• Support is tailored to each individual or a team when required

By providing this safe environment you are creating a mentally healthy workplace which will have benefits for your team as well as the smooth running of your practice. These benefits include;

• Less absenteeism
• Increased productivity
• Job satisfaction
• Reduction in staff turnover
• Attracting great candidates who want to work for you

There are simple steps you can take to build and promote a Mentally Healthy Workplace:

1. Protect your team from bullying, harassment or discrimination.
2. Ensure your team have the right level of training and support.
3. Implement a Work Health and Safety Policy that includes preventive interventions and management of Mental Health issues arising from the workplace.
4. Talk to your team about mental health in the workplace – be open about it and check in with your team often.
5. Provide a healthy work/life balance.
6. Make sure your team know where to go for help. Some of these external resources are attached below

Mental Health Resources:
R U OK?
Lifeline or phone 13 11 14
Mensline Australia or phone 1300 789 978
Beyond Blue or phone 1300 224 636
Queensland Mental Health Services or phone 1300 642 255

Please reach out to the AMA Queensland Workplace Relations Team on (07) 3872 2264 if you require guidance on implementing a Work Health and Safety Policy. Or email us on workplacerelations@amaq.com.au