Although ‘mental health’ encompasses a wide range of debilitating conditions, the two most prevalent mental illnesses in the workplace are depression and anxiety. Often people have significant difficulties in coping with these illnesses and give up their job without employers ever having any awareness of their condition.
Research suggests that each person experiencing depression takes on average three to four days off work per month, which results in a considerable loss in productivity for individual employers. Unfortunately, around 50% of people with depression don't get the help they need. For every full time employee with untreated or undiagnosed depression, it costs an organisation $9665 per year on average in lost productivity. Over six million working days are lost each year as sick leave due to mental illness in Australian workplaces.
Mental Health Week (October 9th-15th) is a national campaign aimed to raise awareness and understanding of mental health illnesses within the community. This week coincides with World Mental Health Day on October 10th, which is a global campaign by the World Federation of Mental Health to also educate about this important issue.
For more information on Mental Health Week, World Mental Health Day and mental health conditions, please visit http://www.mentalhealth.org.au/
How to recognise the signs
How to recognise the signs
Some behaviours commonly associated with Depression may include out of character moodiness, increased irritability and frustration, difficulty sleeping and increased feelings of fatigue or pain. It may also be associated with spending less time with friends and family, staying home from work, loss of interest in usual pleasurable activities and increased alcohol or drug use.
Anxiety disorders come in many forms and involve feelings of continual or extreme discomfort and tension, with fear of panic attacks (usually without discernable cause) to a point where it affects and interrupts a person's every day life. The anxiety presents itself in symptoms such as restlessness, irritability, fatigue, impaired concentration, increased muscle tension and disturbed sleep.
Workplace stress is also known to be a significant risk factor for developing depression. With the demands and stresses placed on today’s workforce, it would be beneficial for employers to implement policies and strategies that support and protect the mental health of their employees.
Organisations might consider strategies such as mental wellness seminars, or interventions that promote healthy lifestyle behaviours and stress reduction practices, such as group exercise sessions, relaxation workshops or an interactive cooking demonstration. Research shows that early diagnoses or the introduction of intervention programs can result in a five-fold return on investment due to increased employee productivity.
How Wesley Corporate Health Can Help You
How Wesley Corporate Health Can Help You
Our highly experienced team of Psychologists can assist your organisation with a range of services. As an Employee Assistance Program, WCH will act as a confidential way to access Psychological help when an employee needs it. The level of support available to staff can be set by your organisation, and this may range from full requried support to a set limit of sessions which are financially supported. Employers are often surprised at how many staff do access the program, as mental health issues are rarely discussed in the workplace setting. Knowing that access is available if/when they need it is highly valued by staff.
Additional services that may facilitate in sustaining a mentally healthy workforce include a range of mental health seminars and workshops, individual telephone health coaching and emotional wellbeing screening and referrals as part of our health assessments. Wesley Corporate Health's targeted employee health interventions are designed to provide a positive return on your investment.
Additional services that may facilitate in sustaining a mentally healthy workforce include a range of mental health seminars and workshops, individual telephone health coaching and emotional wellbeing screening and referrals as part of our health assessments. Wesley Corporate Health's targeted employee health interventions are designed to provide a positive return on your investment.
To find out how we can tailor a package of targeted health interventions for your company, call Louise Reeve on 3234 2609 or contact us online at http://www.weshealth.com.au/
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