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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:
Here are some guidelines for Managers to follow when it comes to mental health:
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:
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:
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.
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.