People Managers
As a Manager, you play a key role in creating a mentally healthy workplace. Here, at Transport for NSW, we are committed to making mental wellness a priority, and creating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture.
In the sections below you will be able to find resources and tools on how to create and maintain a mentally healthy workplace.
Around 90 per cent of employees think mental health is an important issue for businesses, but only 50 per cent believe their workplace is mentally healthy.
TNS (2014). State of Workplace Mental Health in Australia. Melbourne: beyondblue.
Organisations with a positive approach to mental health and safety have increased productivity, improved worker engagement and are better able to recruit and retain talented people.
Instinct and Reason (2014) Heads up Initiative: Employer of Choice Study. Melbourne
(Organisations) also have reduced absenteeism, risk of conflict, grievances, turnover, disability injury rates and performance or morale problems.
Standards Council of Canada (2013). Psychological health and safety in the workplace — Prevention, promotion, and guidance to staged implementation.
Do you want to learn more about how you can support your employees to be mentally well? Or maybe you want more insights on mental health and associated risks? You can do both by completing two e-learning courses we have available for you. These are:
What would you do? Approaching an employee you’re concerned about
Course time: Approx. 20 minutes
This course assists managers address a common workplace scenario. Using a ‘choose a pathway’ approach, managers are challenged to help an employee dealing with a mental health condition to the benefit of the employee and the business.
Mental Health: Managing Risks
Course time: Approx. 20 minutes
This course allows employees and managers to assess common workplace scenarios that can impact mental health of employees. The course gives the user options for exploring different actions and provides valuable insights for the employees and managers on the best approaches and likely outcomes.
Access both of these courses through Equip
Transport for NSW Mental Health Toolkit
This mental health toolkit has been developed by the Black Dog Institute as a practical guide for Transport for NSW employees and managers to assist them in understanding common mental health issues in the workplace, and to provide strategies and resources to support those who may be experiencing a mental health condition.
Keeping your team health
If you’re a team leader or a team member, there are things you can do to promote mental health and wellbeing. Watch the video to find out more about what you can do.
SafeWork Australia
Infographic: Workplace mental health
The Mentally Healthy Workplace Alliance was established by the National Mental Health Commission in 2012. The alliance partnered with Beyond Blue on a national campaign – Heads Up – to support and create mentally healthy workplaces for all businesses across all sectors. Heads Up has produced resources for businesses, large and small, for managers, the boardroom and employees.
Go to Heads up to find information for managers such as:
- If you manage others
- Are they ok?
- Starting a conversation
- Legal rights and responsibilities
- Taking care of yourself
- Mental health conditions
- Suicide prevention
- Workplace bullying
Here are some guidelines for Managers to follow when it comes to mental health:
- Increase your own knowledge about mental health and be aware of the support available.
- Educate your staff about mental health in the workplace.
- Talk openly about mental health at work and encourage others to do the same.
- Provide support to any team member who is struggling with their mental health.
- Communicate regularly with your team.
- Encourage respectful behaviour and communication by team members.
- Improve work design by addressing potential workplace stressors.
- Demonstrate healthy work habits.
- Be an influencer.
- Work with your team to develop a plan.
You can find out more Creating a mentally healthy workplace: A guide for managers.
Workplace risk factors
Mental health can be adversely affected by exposure to a range of hazards or factors in the workplace, including:
- High or 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
A psychosocial risk assessment tool that includes resources to help organisations identify, manage and evaluate injury prevention and management interventions. Developed by Safe Work Australia, the University of Queensland, the Australian National University, Queensland Government and WorkSafe Victoria, the free assessment tool helps PCBUs identify workplace risks and focus on prevention.
Benefits of implementing the People at Work psychosocial risk assessment process include:
- A focus on managing work-related psychosocial risk and prevention of work-related mental health conditions.
- Communicating a clear message to workers that their organisation values their health and wellbeing.
- Taking positive steps towards complying with health and safety laws in relation to psychological health.
How can a workplace help?
It may seem logical to think that time off work is the best solution for anyone with a mental health issue, but in fact this is not always the case. Most people with mild to moderate mental health issues can function at work, perhaps with some reasonable adjustment to their duties, and benefit from being there.
Heads up- Fact Sheets
Below are a couple of fact sheets developed by Heads Up that can help you in supporting someone with a mental health condition.
Fact Sheet- Managing someone with a mental health condition
Anxiety and depression affect people in different ways. While most people are able to keep working, some may need adjustments to the workplace or job to help them continue in their role. Others may need some time off. As well as practical guidance for managers to support someone in their team with a mental health condition, this fact sheet provides information on legal rights and responsibilities.
Fact Sheet- Supporting someone at risk of suicide
If someone you manage has attempted suicide or may be at risk, it can be hard to know how to respond and support them. Many people are unsure what to say, or how to approach the situation. While everyone's experience is different, there are a number of simple, positive things you can do.
Visit the support page on Staywell Hub for more information.
Below is a list of relevant Transport for NSW policies, procedures and other documents
Procedures
Factsheets & Guides
These are factsheets and guides for both TfNSW and RMS
| Injured workers return to work fact sheet |
| Mental Health First Aider Fact Sheet |
| Staying Connected |
| Redeployment Services FAQs |
| Workers compensation employee guide |
| Workers compensation manager guide |
Visit the Resource Library of the Staywell Hub.
