Your how-to: Conducting basic mental health awareness sessions led by leadership in the workplace
Conducting basic mental health awareness sessions led by leadership in the workplace involves organising educational sessions or workshops where senior team members or leaders educate their co-workers about mental health issues. The aim is to create a supportive environment that acknowledges mental health as a vital aspect of overall wellbeing.
The sessions should cover a range of topics including the types and symptoms of common mental health issues, how to seek help and support, and the importance of breaking down stigma. Besides, these sessions may also help employees to recognise signs of struggle in themselves or others and provide strategies or resources to cope.
In an Australian context, leaders should also familiarise themselves with the Fair Work Act 2009 that states, it's unlawful to discriminate against employees based on their mental health. By doing so, they can assure that their workplace behaviour, policies and procedures are in line with Australian legislation and ethical standards.
The ultimate objective is to promote a proactively supportive culture around mental health in the workplace, making it easier for employees going through tough times to feel understood, supported, and capable of seeking help.
Step by step instructions
Plan Your Sessions Once leaders have a good understanding of mental health, they can commence planning their sessions. These sessions need to be comprehensive, covering a wide range of topics such as symptoms of mental health issues, ways to seek help, and managing stigma related to mental health. Leaders should consider including activities, discussions, and guest speakers to keep sessions engaging and interactive.
Plan Your Sessions: Once leaders have a good understanding of mental health, they can commence planning their sessions. These sessions need to be comprehensive, covering a wide range of topics such as symptoms of mental health issues, ways to seek help, and managing stigma related to mental health. Leaders should consider including activities, discussions, and guest speakers to keep sessions engaging and interactive.
Conduct the Sessions: In each session, leaders should foster a safe and supportive environment that encourages participation and discussion. They should also provide clear and concise information about mental health, promoting openness and removing stigma. Remember to signpost employees to where they can get support if they're experiencing mental health issues.
Regularly Review and Update the Sessions: Finally, after conducting the sessions, gather feedback from attendees about their experience and what they found valuable. This feedback can be used to improve future sessions, ensuring they stay relevant and beneficial to employees. Regular updates to the sessions are crucial to keep up with evolving understanding of mental health and its relevance in a dynamic work environment.
Communicate Clearly and Efficiently: Ensure every member of the team is aware of these sessions and understands their purpose. Clarity about when and where the sessions will be held, what will be covered and why they're necessary is crucial. Use appropriate channels, such as team meetings, email or internal communications platforms, to disseminate this information.
Communicate Clearly and Efficiently: Ensure every member of the team is aware of these sessions and understands their purpose. Clarity about when and where the sessions will be held, what will be covered and why they're necessary is crucial. Use appropriate channels, such as team meetings, email or internal communications platforms, to disseminate this information.
Provide Follow-Up Support: Post-session, ensure there are resources and support available to those who may be affected by the topics discussed or who may wish to explore mental health further. This could involve sharing relevant website links, helpline numbers, or in-house resources like Employee Assistance Programmes.
Reflect and Breathe: This step can be challenging, so it's important to take a moment to breathe and reflect. Pause to consider the progress made, the obstacles encountered, and the lessons learned. This reflection will not only help in gaining clarity but also in maintaining a balanced perspective, allowing for thoughtful and deliberate decision-making moving forward.
Use this template to implement
To ensure you can execute seamlessly, download the implementation template.
Pitfalls to avoid
In our multicultural Australian society, it is crucial to be sensitive to cultural differences when addressing mental health issues. Auspiciously ignoring these differences can marginalise individuals and reinforce stigmas attached to mental health in certain cultures.
Consult with a trained mental health professional while designing your awareness program. Launching sessions without proper knowledge can lead to misinformation which may intensify existing issues or stigmas.
Without proper resources like printed materials, web-based tools, and support services, employees may feel unsupported. This discrepancy between your words and actions may leave employees feeling disillusioned and unattended.
Confidentiality is fundamental in any mental health-related conversation. Failing to respect and uphold this can discourage employees from coming forward with their concerns, hindering the effectiveness of your efforts.
Ensure that your program adheres to relevant legislations like Australia's National Standards for Mental Health Service and the Mental Health Act 2014. Ignoring these could lead to legal repercussions and may discredit your initiative.
Ignoring feedback from participants could stagnate your program’s growth and functionality. Consider using anonymous surveys to gather honest responses and work towards improvements.