Resources Library

Click on one of the links below to go to that section:


Directories, EAP and Emergency Contacts


Mental Health First Aiders are an avenue of support where you can confidentially discuss your issues and receive advice on potential next steps. You can search for a MHFA to support you by searching Name, Division or Location.

Employee Assistance Program

  • TfNSW, Sydney Metro & Roads and Maritime: 1300 360 364
  • Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink: 1300 364 213
  • State Transit: 1300 360 364
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Support Line 1800 816 152

Emergency Contacts

  • Emergency 000 (or 112 from a mobile phone)
  • Lifeline on 13 11 14
  • Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
  • MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
  • Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467

Support for domestic violence and abuse

E-Learning


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.

Guides and Fact-sheets


Building resilience

  • What is resilience?
  • What is stress?
  • Key areas at work that cause the most amount of stress
  • Understanding and monitoring your response to stress
  • Techniques to deal with stress and build resilience

Creating a mentally healthy workplace: A guide for managers

  • Benefits of a mentally healthy workplaces
  • Understanding mental health
  • Workplace stress
  • Tips for managers
  • Noticing changes in employee behaviour
  • Legal responsibilities

Emotional and Social Intelligence

Improving emotional and social intelligence

  • Regulating emotions
  • Reflect
  • Catch yourself
  • Mindfulness
  • Building social competence

Feeling good

  • What is positive psychology?
  • Practical strategies to increase your psychological wellbeing
  • Where to get more information

Happiness

  • What is happiness?
  • The science of happiness
  • Life in the fast lane: time, money and happiness
  • Can we change our level of happiness?

How do I support someone?

  • Be informed
  • Connect
  • Action focused
  • Balance

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.

Mental Health Stigma

Mental Health- How can I break down the stigma?

  • What is stigma?
  • What can I do?
  • Education
  • Language
  • Support

Mindfulness

  • What is mindfulness?
  • Examples of mindfulness techniques
  • How can mindfulness help?

Peer support

  • Ways to support your colleagues
  • What might alert you to the need to have a conversation about someone’s mental health?
  • Five simple steps to an effective conversation
  • Help Seeking
  • What if someone talks about suicide?

Staying connected

  • Five Ways to Wellbeing research
  • Connect
  • Strategies to connect with the people around you
  • Activity — Connect

Stress mindset

Stress Mindset - How can I keep stress helpful?

  • What is stress?
  • When is stress harmful?
  • When is stress enhancing?
  • How can I shift my stress mindset?
  • What does the research suggest?

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.

Supportive Friendships

  • Find common ground and build on it
  • Respect the other person’s individuality
  • Create and share positive experiences
  • Be a good listener
  • Help your friend to thrive

Taking care of your mental health- A guide for employees

  • Understanding mental health
  • Mental health in the workplace
  • Symptoms and common mental health conditions

Work-life balance strategies

  • Personal management strategies for improving work-life balance
  • Values
  • Effective time management
  • Goals

Podcasts


Calibrate Podcasts

Calibrate is a series of guided mindfulness podcast sessions created by expert psychologists. When you practice mindfulness your brain physically changes and the benefits permeate all aspects of your life. Practising mindfulness for just 10 minutes each day has proven to reduce the psychological and physiological symptoms of stress, alleviate symptoms of anxiety, improve quality of sleep and enhance relationship satisfaction, just to name a few. Studies have also shown that practising mindfulness activates the part of the brain that looks after self-regulation, problem-solving and adaptive behaviours.

Starter Series

Starter series 1
Starter series 2
Starter series 3
Starter series 4
Starter series 5

Stress Series

Stress series 1
Stress series 2
Stress series 3
Stress series 4
Stress series 5

Ask the Experts Podcasts

Crumbling vs thriving in the face of challenge

What separates top seeded athletes from their average counterparts, high performing employees from their mediocre colleagues, or entrepreneurs that manage to succeed where others have failed? In most cases the difference is their mental fitness and their ability to rise to the challenge instead of crumbling under the pressure. So just how do you get mentally fit?

Confidence - a key part to maintaining your mental fitness

Believing in your ability to see through to the conclusion of a difficult task and your inner strength to persuade and stand your ground when needed, has a significant impact on your mental toughness. So how do you improve your confidence and put it to work for you?

Tools & Tips


Depression self-test

This brief questionnaire will ask you about symptoms of depression and some other related problems.

Disclosure Pros and cons tool- Talking about mental health conditions

The decision of whether to talk about your mental health condition at work is a personal one – there's no right or wrong answer, and every situation is different.

Heads Up three-step tool is designed to help you weigh up all the issues. While you'll receive a summary at the end, the main aim of this exercise is to get you thinking about your personal circumstances and what will work best for you.

Healthdirect Symptom Checker

The healthdirect Symptom Checker is an online tool which allows you to check your symptoms using a simple self-guided triage process to get advice about what action you should take next.

Relaxation techniques

Relaxation has been described as ‘a state of consciousness characterised by feelings of peace and release from tension, anxiety and fear’. The term is usually taken to mean either lack of muscle tension or lack of inner ‘mental tension’. Access the resource for simple relaxation techniques.

R U OK?

Got a niggling feeling that someone you know or care about it isn’t behaving as they normally would? Perhaps they seem out of sorts? More agitated or withdrawn? Or they’re just not themselves. Trust that gut instinct and act on it.

Safe Work Australia mental-health infographic

Work related mental health statistics

Sam the chatbot

Sam the chatbot is a virtual assistant available through Head to Health. Answer some of Sam's questions and you will be pointed to relevant mental health resources.

Staywell Support Infographic

A quick guide helps you navigate what resources and support systems are available at Transport to help you stay well.

Transport for NSW Mental Health Toolkit

The 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.

Videos


I had a black dog, his name was depression

At its worst, depression can be a frightening, debilitating condition. Millions of people around the world live with depression. Many of these individuals and their families are afraid to talk about their struggles, and don't know where to turn for help. However, depression is largely preventable and treatable. Recognising depression and seeking help is the first and most critical towards recovery.

I Am Anxiety

Just as there are times when you might feel down, but are not clinically depressed, there are times when you will feel anxious, but do not have an anxiety disorder. It’s normal to feel anxious in high pressure situations.

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

If you’re worried about someone, have a conversation
Having a conversation with a colleague who may be struggling with their mental health could be the first step towards that person seeking help and finding a solution.

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.

Resilience

Resilience is the ability to “bounce back” from stressful or challenging experiences. Research has shown that resilience is ordinary, not extraordinary.

Staywell Support Animation Video

Learn more about the support channels available to help you stay well and support others in the workplace.

Talking about mental health at work

Did you tell someone about your mental health issues?

What is a Mental Health First Aider?

Watch this short video.

Websites and Apps


Happify

Happify is an online positive psychology games and activities program. The tool will assist with some fun ways to:

  • Learn positive psychology skills
  • Practice positive thought habits
  • Use proactive strategies for better mental health

Head to Health

Head to Health is a website that connects Australians to trusted mental health services and information. To find out how Head to Health can help you, someone in your family or a friend, visit headtohealth.gov.au

People at work

People at Work is a psychological risk assessment process. It aims to help organisations identify and manage workplace risks to the psychological health of workers, volunteers and all people within a workplace.
The risk assessment is available online. Find out what resources are available to help implement a psychological risk management approach and customised interventions by contacting People and Culture- Organisational Effectiveness Team.

Mentally healthy workplaces

SafeWork NSW offers a great resource about how mentally healthy workplaces contribute to social and financial benefits for employees and the business.

Moodgym

Moodgym is like an interactive self-help book which helps you to learn and practise skills which can help to prevent and manage symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Stress Prevention at work Checkpoints

Interactive checklists (50 in total) of stress checkpoints to use in the workplace, Best practice recommendations for taking action and implementing effective improvements in preventing stress in the workplace.

App Features

  • Access detailed descriptions of checkpoints with illustrations
  • Create custom checklists, prioritise checkpoints and make notes
  • Date stamp and export your checklists and notes

Webinars


Health anxiety- Benestar

In this webinar, we cover the following topics:

  • Understanding what health anxiety means.
  • Exploring "normal anxiety"
  • Health anxiety and the current COVID19 outbreak (common responses)
  • Risk factors
  • Managing the anxiety
  • Help available from Benestar.


Click on one of the links below to go to that section:


Directories, EAP and Emergency Contacts


Mental Health First Aiders are an avenue of support where you can confidentially discuss your issues and receive advice on potential next steps. You can search for a MHFA to support you by searching Name, Division or Location.

Employee Assistance Program

  • TfNSW, Sydney Metro & Roads and Maritime: 1300 360 364
  • Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink: 1300 364 213
  • State Transit: 1300 360 364
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Support Line 1800 816 152

Emergency Contacts

  • Emergency 000 (or 112 from a mobile phone)
  • Lifeline on 13 11 14
  • Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
  • MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
  • Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467

Support for domestic violence and abuse

E-Learning


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.

Guides and Fact-sheets


Building resilience

  • What is resilience?
  • What is stress?
  • Key areas at work that cause the most amount of stress
  • Understanding and monitoring your response to stress
  • Techniques to deal with stress and build resilience

Creating a mentally healthy workplace: A guide for managers

  • Benefits of a mentally healthy workplaces
  • Understanding mental health
  • Workplace stress
  • Tips for managers
  • Noticing changes in employee behaviour
  • Legal responsibilities

Emotional and Social Intelligence

Improving emotional and social intelligence

  • Regulating emotions
  • Reflect
  • Catch yourself
  • Mindfulness
  • Building social competence

Feeling good

  • What is positive psychology?
  • Practical strategies to increase your psychological wellbeing
  • Where to get more information

Happiness

  • What is happiness?
  • The science of happiness
  • Life in the fast lane: time, money and happiness
  • Can we change our level of happiness?

How do I support someone?

  • Be informed
  • Connect
  • Action focused
  • Balance

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.

Mental Health Stigma

Mental Health- How can I break down the stigma?

  • What is stigma?
  • What can I do?
  • Education
  • Language
  • Support

Mindfulness

  • What is mindfulness?
  • Examples of mindfulness techniques
  • How can mindfulness help?

Peer support

  • Ways to support your colleagues
  • What might alert you to the need to have a conversation about someone’s mental health?
  • Five simple steps to an effective conversation
  • Help Seeking
  • What if someone talks about suicide?

Staying connected

  • Five Ways to Wellbeing research
  • Connect
  • Strategies to connect with the people around you
  • Activity — Connect

Stress mindset

Stress Mindset - How can I keep stress helpful?

  • What is stress?
  • When is stress harmful?
  • When is stress enhancing?
  • How can I shift my stress mindset?
  • What does the research suggest?

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.

Supportive Friendships

  • Find common ground and build on it
  • Respect the other person’s individuality
  • Create and share positive experiences
  • Be a good listener
  • Help your friend to thrive

Taking care of your mental health- A guide for employees

  • Understanding mental health
  • Mental health in the workplace
  • Symptoms and common mental health conditions

Work-life balance strategies

  • Personal management strategies for improving work-life balance
  • Values
  • Effective time management
  • Goals

Podcasts


Calibrate Podcasts

Calibrate is a series of guided mindfulness podcast sessions created by expert psychologists. When you practice mindfulness your brain physically changes and the benefits permeate all aspects of your life. Practising mindfulness for just 10 minutes each day has proven to reduce the psychological and physiological symptoms of stress, alleviate symptoms of anxiety, improve quality of sleep and enhance relationship satisfaction, just to name a few. Studies have also shown that practising mindfulness activates the part of the brain that looks after self-regulation, problem-solving and adaptive behaviours.

Starter Series

Starter series 1
Starter series 2
Starter series 3
Starter series 4
Starter series 5

Stress Series

Stress series 1
Stress series 2
Stress series 3
Stress series 4
Stress series 5

Ask the Experts Podcasts

Crumbling vs thriving in the face of challenge

What separates top seeded athletes from their average counterparts, high performing employees from their mediocre colleagues, or entrepreneurs that manage to succeed where others have failed? In most cases the difference is their mental fitness and their ability to rise to the challenge instead of crumbling under the pressure. So just how do you get mentally fit?

Confidence - a key part to maintaining your mental fitness

Believing in your ability to see through to the conclusion of a difficult task and your inner strength to persuade and stand your ground when needed, has a significant impact on your mental toughness. So how do you improve your confidence and put it to work for you?

Tools & Tips


Depression self-test

This brief questionnaire will ask you about symptoms of depression and some other related problems.

Disclosure Pros and cons tool- Talking about mental health conditions

The decision of whether to talk about your mental health condition at work is a personal one – there's no right or wrong answer, and every situation is different.

Heads Up three-step tool is designed to help you weigh up all the issues. While you'll receive a summary at the end, the main aim of this exercise is to get you thinking about your personal circumstances and what will work best for you.

Healthdirect Symptom Checker

The healthdirect Symptom Checker is an online tool which allows you to check your symptoms using a simple self-guided triage process to get advice about what action you should take next.

Relaxation techniques

Relaxation has been described as ‘a state of consciousness characterised by feelings of peace and release from tension, anxiety and fear’. The term is usually taken to mean either lack of muscle tension or lack of inner ‘mental tension’. Access the resource for simple relaxation techniques.

R U OK?

Got a niggling feeling that someone you know or care about it isn’t behaving as they normally would? Perhaps they seem out of sorts? More agitated or withdrawn? Or they’re just not themselves. Trust that gut instinct and act on it.

Safe Work Australia mental-health infographic

Work related mental health statistics

Sam the chatbot

Sam the chatbot is a virtual assistant available through Head to Health. Answer some of Sam's questions and you will be pointed to relevant mental health resources.

Staywell Support Infographic

A quick guide helps you navigate what resources and support systems are available at Transport to help you stay well.

Transport for NSW Mental Health Toolkit

The 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.

Videos


I had a black dog, his name was depression

At its worst, depression can be a frightening, debilitating condition. Millions of people around the world live with depression. Many of these individuals and their families are afraid to talk about their struggles, and don't know where to turn for help. However, depression is largely preventable and treatable. Recognising depression and seeking help is the first and most critical towards recovery.

I Am Anxiety

Just as there are times when you might feel down, but are not clinically depressed, there are times when you will feel anxious, but do not have an anxiety disorder. It’s normal to feel anxious in high pressure situations.

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

If you’re worried about someone, have a conversation
Having a conversation with a colleague who may be struggling with their mental health could be the first step towards that person seeking help and finding a solution.

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.

Resilience

Resilience is the ability to “bounce back” from stressful or challenging experiences. Research has shown that resilience is ordinary, not extraordinary.

Staywell Support Animation Video

Learn more about the support channels available to help you stay well and support others in the workplace.

Talking about mental health at work

Did you tell someone about your mental health issues?

What is a Mental Health First Aider?

Watch this short video.

Websites and Apps


Happify

Happify is an online positive psychology games and activities program. The tool will assist with some fun ways to:

  • Learn positive psychology skills
  • Practice positive thought habits
  • Use proactive strategies for better mental health

Head to Health

Head to Health is a website that connects Australians to trusted mental health services and information. To find out how Head to Health can help you, someone in your family or a friend, visit headtohealth.gov.au

People at work

People at Work is a psychological risk assessment process. It aims to help organisations identify and manage workplace risks to the psychological health of workers, volunteers and all people within a workplace.
The risk assessment is available online. Find out what resources are available to help implement a psychological risk management approach and customised interventions by contacting People and Culture- Organisational Effectiveness Team.

Mentally healthy workplaces

SafeWork NSW offers a great resource about how mentally healthy workplaces contribute to social and financial benefits for employees and the business.

Moodgym

Moodgym is like an interactive self-help book which helps you to learn and practise skills which can help to prevent and manage symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Stress Prevention at work Checkpoints

Interactive checklists (50 in total) of stress checkpoints to use in the workplace, Best practice recommendations for taking action and implementing effective improvements in preventing stress in the workplace.

App Features

  • Access detailed descriptions of checkpoints with illustrations
  • Create custom checklists, prioritise checkpoints and make notes
  • Date stamp and export your checklists and notes

Webinars


Health anxiety- Benestar

In this webinar, we cover the following topics:

  • Understanding what health anxiety means.
  • Exploring "normal anxiety"
  • Health anxiety and the current COVID19 outbreak (common responses)
  • Risk factors
  • Managing the anxiety
  • Help available from Benestar.


Page last updated: 14 Jun 2023, 03:20 PM