This week many organisations, including our own will help to promote ‘R U OK?’ day. We are looking forward to getting out to many of our clients’ workplaces to spread the word on mental health awareness. R U OK Day is a great initiative that encourages people to reach out and check in on friends, loved ones and colleagues. But what happens if someone says they are not OK? Chances are if you are checking in with someone, it is because you have noticed something different about them or their behaviour. Perhaps they have been coming in late to work, or perhaps they just aren’t their usual chatty self in the lunch room. When someone is not “OK” there are often many early warning signs, and it is noticing these signs and knowing how and when to intervene that can make all the difference.
Leaders within organisations play an integral role in the mental health of their team members and the workplace more broadly. They are often the first to notice absenteeism, forgetfulness, mistakes and subtle changes in behaviour. However many leaders report lacking confidence or feeling ill-equipped to approach discussions regarding mental health. This can often result in a blind eye being turned until such time that performance has significantly dropped. The organisation may then be in the precarious position of deciding whether or not to performance manage an employee with mental health concerns. Much of this can be avoided by providing leaders with training (not only to ensure technical competence), to ensure they know how to effectively manage their people. With one in five adult Australians experiencing a mental illness in any one year, all leaders can expect to be faced with the challenge at some point in their career.
Leaders should be provided with the opportunity to:
- Increase their own knowledge about mental health
- Regularly communicate with and check-in on their team
- Be aware of the resources and supports available (internal and external to the organisation)
- Educate employees on mental health in the workplace
- Talk openly about mental health and encourage their team to do the same
- Regularly review work design and processes to reduce the risk of workloads impacting the mental health of employees
- Be a role model for healthy work habits
Headway provide a number of workshops on mental health awareness within the workplace and mental health training for leaders. If you think these workshops may benefit your organisation, get in touch today by calling (08) 9226 4489.
