Mental Health – The Next Curve To Flatten

The COVID-19 outbreak has impacted people and businesses in varying ways however, past epidemics suggest that mental health impacts are likely to be felt in the months following the crisis, rather than the lockdown period. With the economic downturn, job losses and business closures, there is no doubt that your business must have a mental health strategy in place to maintain the wellbeing of your staff.

The South Australian Business Chamber’s Healthy Worker Advisor, Kylie Cocks, encourages all business owners and managers to consider three crucial elements as part of their COVID-19 mental health strategy:

Support and manage mental illness:

• If a worker has previously disclosed a mental illness, it may have been worsened during the pandemic. It is important to recognise this and support the employee’s recovery and return to work.
• Some of your employees may have a newly diagnosed mental illness. There is no legal obligation for your employee to disclose a mental illness, unless it is likely to put their safety, or that of their colleagues at risk. Be prepared to recognise mental illness and how to talk with your employee.
• Become knowledgeable of mental health services that are available for your staff to access – we suggest the SA Mental Health Commission website as a comprehensive starting point.

Protect your staff’s mental health by reducing work-related harm:

• Mental health can be adversely affected by exposure to a range of hazards or factors in the workplace. Identify and assess the risk of the following — high job demand, low job demand, poor support, poor workplace relationships, low role clarity, poor organisational change management, poor organisational justice, poor environmental conditions, remote or isolated work, and violent or traumatic events. Use the South Australian Business Chamber’s Managing Workplace Stress Practical Guide or Safe Work Australia’s Work-related Psychological Health and Safety

Take a positive approach to enhance wellbeing:

• All leaders should use the three c’s – clear Communication, trusting Connections, mental health Competence.
• Manager training in workplace mental health can improve managers’ mental health literacy, reduce stigmatising attitudes towards mental illness in the workplace and promote higher levels of confidence in supporting employees who are experiencing ill mental health.
• Access the South Australian Business Chamber’s online training courses including active listening, creating a positive workplace, stress management, leadership for supervisors, performance management, resilience and mental health.