Well-being in the Workplace

• DJ Grigg
• 05/24/2024

A Guide to Promoting Mental Well-being in the Workplace: Resources and Strategies for Employers

Supporting and promoting health and well-being in the workplace is essential for staff and business owners alike. Providing a physically and mentally healthy workplace is beneficial for all who work there, as it reduces staff absenteeism, increases productivity, and makes the workplace more enjoyable.

If you are an employer, workplace health and safety laws require you to look after your workers’ mental health just as you would physical health.

This includes minimising risks to workers’ mental health, preventing discrimination based on mental health, protecting privacy, and not taking unfair action against workers because of a mental health condition.

Workplace Mental Health and Well-being Resources

There are many excellent apps available, both free and paid, to assist with all aspects of physical and mental well-being in the workplace that you can offer to staff. Also, you could use them yourself as a business owner.

• Beyond Blue NewAccess for Small Business Owners – mental health coaching program for small business owners and sole traders.
• Ahead for Business – supporting small businesses to be mentally healthy.
• My Business Health – provided by the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman.
• Black Dog Institute – independent not-for-profit medical research institute offering HeadGear phone app to build resilience and well-being.
• Head to Health – Government digital mental health gateway.
• Everymind – mental health and well-being advice for small business owners.
• RUOK – how to ask if someone is okay.

Creating a Healthy Workplace

Creating well-being in the workplace doesn’t have to take a lot of time and resources. Small activities carried out regularly accumulate over time into good habits and everyday practice.

Encourage conversations about health and well-being, check in with staff about stress they may be experiencing, offer team activities that promote well-being and provide access to tools like the apps listed above to assist employees in managing their mental health and well-being. Find out more about workplace stress, rights and responsibilities, risk factors, and how to develop an action plan.

Many other apps provide education about mental health and practical tools to change mental and emotional states. Consider offering your employees paid subscriptions to an app of their choice to foster well-being. Check out Unwinding Anxiety, Headspace, Waking Up, Calm, Ten Percent Happier, and Productive for starters.

If you are a small business owner experiencing business-related stress which is spilling over into your personal life, NewAccess for Small Business Owners (developed by Beyond Blue) has a great mental health coaching program for small business owners and sole traders.

When a workplace takes care of its employees’ mental wellbeing, it leads to happier, more productive workers. When employees feel supported and valued, they’re more likely to do their best work. Plus, addressing mental health issues early can save money and create a positive work culture where people thrive.