Mentally healthy work and why it matters
- Mentally healthy work prevents harm to your mental health. Among other things, this means fair workloads, fair work practices, and a safe environment.
- Mentally healthy work promotes wellbeing and the positive aspects of work. This means things such as fairness, inclusion, and employee development.
- Mentally healthy work supports people. This means everyone works in a place where their mental health is prioritised and awareness, capability, commitment, and meaningful support exist.
Beyond Blue's mental health podcasts
Join Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman AO for Season One: Workplace as she explores fresh perspectives on how work can support mental wellbeing.
Across five episodes, Georgie speaks with experts and people with lived experience about job design, burnout, imposter feelings, executive wellbeing, and how to support people who care for others experiencing mental health conditions.
All episodes of Think Again with Beyond Blue are available to listen or download now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
Key facts – mental health at work
- Many Australians spend a third of their lives at work.
- Work plays a significant role in the lives of 14.4 million Australians. Work is a key setting to improve and support mental health.
- Nearly 1 in 5 people experience poor mental health each year. Nearly half of us will experience poor mental health during our lives.
- Poor mental health costs Australian businesses up to $39 billion each year in lost productivity and participation.
What influences mental health at work
- Understanding the work and the context of the work
- The effort required to do a job
- Fair treatment
Good support
- How work is recognised and rewarded
- The work environment
- Work relationships and interactions (including clients or the public)
- Having the training, skills and tools to perform the work
- Communication and change management
- Exposure to traumatic events or information
Learn more about what influences your mental health at work on the SafeWork Australia website.
What about burnout?
If you’re feeling stressed, exhausted, and your thoughts and emotions about your work are mostly negative, there’s a chance you’re experiencing burnout.
The good news is, there are lots of things you can do now to recover from and prevent burnout.
Find out what burnout is, whether you’re experiencing burnout, and how you can protect your mental health at work.
Building a mentally healthy workplace
Good work design
Watch: How to check in with a colleague
Noticed a colleague isn't quite themselves but unsure how to approach them? In this short video, you'll learn how to have that important conversation:
- How to overcome stigma and choose the right person to check in.
- What to say to start the conversation simply and safely.
- How to listen, show you care, and suggest support options.
- When to follow up and how to handle confidentiality concerns.
