The South Australian Business Chamber Today

Who do you bring to work?

Thursday, June 30th 2022

The Australian Census 2021 released this week tells us that mental health challenges are high up in the list of health conditions. Meanwhile, at Return to Work SA, 14% of claims are mental health-related.

Mental illness is a well-researched area and the great news of this emerging research shows that mental illness is not the opposite of mental well-being. They can exist side by side with high or low symptoms of each.

This means that for most of the millions of Australians with and without mental illness, mental well-being is possible.

Mental well-being is a skill that can be measured, learned and cultivated as a workplace team in a collective and simultaneously personalised way.

What is personal well-being?

The World Health Organisation’s definition of ‘well-being’ identifies three components, that a person:

‘functions’ well, measured by functionality
experiences itself to be well, measured by subjective feeling
is connected in meaningful and productive ways; measured by connection, meaning and productivity.

In the context of an organisation, when people function well and experience themselves, they are more likely to have a productive work culture and be more productive themselves.

According to Be Well Co’s mental well-being measurements, being well looks like:

Low stress levels, which may be expressed as a sense of gratitude, presence, connection, ability to lead with your strengths.

Low anxiety levels, which may be expressed as a higher quality of presence, psychological flexibility, grace and creativity.

A stable mood, which may be expressed as self-compassion, effortless problem-solving abilities, an ability to manage time well and a skill in reducing automatic negative thoughts.

High resilience, which can be expressed through a relaxed physiology, productivity and a skill in observing and responding sensory information rather than reacting to it.

High physical health, which can be expressed as goal-setting and regular exercise.

Which brings us now to you and your colleagues: who do you bring to work?

Join the South Australian Business Chamber member and Be Well Co Trainer, Biela McMillan in a conversation to personalise well-being to your organisation in a cost and time-efficient approach towards personal and organisational well-being and resilience.

There is also a possibility of funding support through the SafeWorkSA’s Augusta Zadow Awards, so please speak to Biela if this is of interest to you: https://www.safework.sa.gov.au/about-us/augusta-zadow-awards

Contact

Biela McMillan

0417 660 034

Director WellCity Adelaide, Licensed Be Well Trainer