Health & Wellbeing at Work - Mental health

How can you help look after your most valuable asset - your staff?

The landscaping industry predominantly employs males and whilst the stereotype of macho male ‘tradies’ being tough prevails, as an industry we can be a conduit for change. Your business productivity and bottom line will be affected by workers who may be struggling with mental health issues and you may not even be aware of it. Five out of seven suicides are men and the number of men with depression is 4.5 times the size of the grand final crowd at the MCG. It’s time to man up; stop being ‘blokes’ and talk about it!

Small landscape businesses are in the unique position due to close connections with their staff – working with them on a daily basis enables you to notice changes in behaviour or attitudes and allow you to ask the question – “Are you feeling OK?”

Larger landscaping operations may have a Human Resources manager or other personnel position and systems should be in place to have regular informal chats with staff, possibly by a supervisor to ensure you are doing what you can to assist your employees general wellbeing. It will pay dividends cementing your business as an “Employer of Choice”.

Mental Health & Your Workplace - The Real Cost

According to the World Health Organization, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Common mental health conditions like depression and anxiety may be experienced by business managers or their staff, and can impact on business performance.

• Lost productivity (through days off work or not working at full capacity)
• Potential damage to relationships with clients or other staff

Check out this return on investment (roi) interactive tool which helps businesses to understand the importance of creating a mentally healthy workplace – choose construction industry from the drop down box and the size of your workforce.

Click Here

Take a look at 10 things you can do to make your workplace mentally healthy small businesses & medium/large businesses. And for more information visit Heads Up

Resources for You and Your Employees

Your business could consider implementing the Beyond Blue National Workplace Program which focuses on how to recognise when a work colleague may be experiencing depression or anxiety, how to support someone to get help and good management strategies such as return-to-work plans and making adjustments in the workplace. 

Beyond Blue also offers Workplace Online a series of free online resources to raise awareness of depression and anxiety in the workplace and provide practical strategies to support individuals and promote mental health in the workplace.

Each resource:

• increases understanding of mental health issues in the workplace
• presents evidence-based information in an engaging, interactive and succinct way 
• includes activities that allow users to observe, reflect and learn about mental health issues in the workplace
• takes up to 20 minutes to complete
• can be used on smart phones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers.

Access the free programs 

Mentally Healthy Workplaces

Employers want to provide environments that are mentally healthy for their workers.

The benefits of a mentally healthy workplace

• Decrease in work-related injuries and illnesses
• Decrease in workers’ compensation claims
• Thriving workers
• Increase in productivity
• Decrease in absenteeism
• Increase in engagement and job satisfaction
• Decrease in turnover and selection costs
• Increase in attraction of top talent

For additional guidance and tools on how to provide this

Psychosocial Risks

Some of your workers may be feeling stressed or under pressure simply because of the modern workday environment. This work related stress and the risks (‘psychosocial’ risks) such as bullying, occupational violence and fatigue that cause it, can have a profound impact on employers, employees, their colleagues and families.

Under current WHS legislation employers and managers have a responsibility to ensure (amongst other things) employees’ psychosocial safety whilst at work. Psychosocial risks include bullying, harassment, occupational violence, unreasonable job demands, job control/autonomy and job insecurity.

To understand more about this topic and an example of 5 steps your business can consider when establishing a risk management process to prevent and respond to psychosocial risks take a look at this factsheet.

Members should consider downloading the Mentally Healthy Workplaces toolkit. This helpful resource contains the tools to assist you to establish and maintain a workplace that promotes good mental health.

Assistance is Available

There are lots of organisations offering support, counselling and assistance to anyone needing it - you just need to know where to look:-

Heads Up 

Beyond Blue

How it affects Men

Lifeline Australia

Black Dog Institute

R U OK?

Life’s ups and downs happen every day. That’s why it’s important to ask, R U OK? any day.

Got a feeling that someone you know or care about 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. Learn more about the signs and when it's time to ask R U OK? below.

A conversation could change a life.

R U OK? have put together a 4-Step Conversation Model (ALEC) to help you approach asking someone if they are ok.

1. Ask R U OK?
   Start the conversation in a relaxed and private setting. Be friendly, and mention any changes you've noticed. Example: "You don’t seem yourself lately—want to talk about it?"
2. Listen
   Listen with an open mind, without interrupting or trying to fix things. Give them space to express themselves. You can say: "I’m here to listen, whenever you're ready."
3. Encourage Action
   Suggest small steps they can take to feel better, like talking to a trusted friend or seeing a health professional. Example: "What’s one thing that might help right now?"
4. Check In
   Keep in touch. Follow up regularly to show continued care and support. You could ask: "How have things been since we last talked?"

Tradies Tools to Talk  Workplace Presentation  Workplace Guide Be A Mate

Some of the above information is reproduced from:

https://www.headsup.org.au/
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/who-does-it-affect/men
https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/

Page last updated 1/3/2023