Your how-to: Developing a comprehensive directory of support and counselling resources
Developing a comprehensive directory of support and counselling resources in your workplace is a strategic approach to safeguarding and enhancing the mental wellbeing of your employees. It encompasses methodically researching, compiling, and organising a range of mental health resources, services and contacts that your employees can easily access.
These resources could be both internal and external to your organisation. Internally, you might include details and contacts of your in-house counselling services, wellbeing officers, the human resources team, and information about policies (such as Employee Assistance Programmes or EAPs) that support mental health.
Externally, your directory could feature a broad array of resources such as details of certified mental health professionals or counsellors, crisis hotlines, community support groups, online counselling platforms, and mental health apps. It's important to present these resources in a way that maintains confidentiality and respects employee privacy.
Hotlines like Lifeline Australia or Beyond Blue could be of relevance to your employees, as could COVID-19 mental health support information offered by the Australian government. Information on local mental health laws such as the Workplace Health and Safety Act 2011 (Queensland) and how they apply to your workplace environment could also be included in the directory.
In essence, this directory serves as a one-stop reference guide for mental wellbeing resources, ensuring that support is easily accessible to all employees when they need it.
Step by step instructions
Assess the Current Situation: The first step is to understand the current situation in your organisation. Gauge the mental health and wellness status of your employees. An anonymous survey can be beneficial for understanding their needs and demands. This will help you determine the type of counselling services and resources required.
Validate and Evaluate Resources: Contact the potential resources for verification and to obtain necessary details. Evaluate them based on their credibility, relevance, and utility for your employees. Don't forget to include resources that could assist during crisis situations like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Review Legal Considerations: Examine local mental health laws such as the Workplace Health and Safety Act 2011 (Queensland) and ensure that the information provided in the directory is in line with these laws. Additionally, your directory should also respect the privacy and confidentiality laws of Australia.
Pause to Evaluate Progress: Take regular pauses to evaluate the progress of the process. Use these moments to gather data on outcomes and solicit feedback from participants. Reflecting on metrics like engagement, satisfaction, and effectiveness will provide insights into what's working well and what might need adjustment.
Identify Potential Resources: Begin identifying potential resources that could be included in the directory. These should be mental health resources, contacts and services internally within your organisation and external resources such as professional counsellors, community support groups, hotlines like Lifeline Australia or Beyond Blue, online counselling platforms, and mental health apps.
Compile and Organise the Directory: Next, organise the identified resources into a comprehensive directory. It should be ordered sensibly, perhaps categorised by the type of service, immediacy of support, confidentiality level etc. Ensure the directory maintains the privacy of employees while providing sufficient information for the resource.
Communication and Accessibility: Finally, announce and distribute the directory to all employees. It should be easily accessible, perhaps through your company's intranet or as a printed booklet. Make sure all your employees are aware of this resource and are comfortable in utilising it.
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
While compiling a directory, respecting the privacy and confidentiality of the resources involved, such as counselling providers, is necessary. Breaching confidentiality can lead to legal consequences under Australian Privacy Principles contained in Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
Support and counselling services evolve with time. Make sure you update your directory regularly to include new services, remove discontinued ones, and update changes in contact details or operational procedures.
In Australia, the National Standards for Mental Health Services and the Fair Work Act 2009 stipulates that workplaces have an obligation to support mental health. Make sure your directory meets these requirements by providing appropriate resources and accessibility.
One common mistake is not providing a diverse array of resources. Make sure to include a broad range of services that cater to different mental, emotional, and psychological health needs. This ensures all employees feel included and represented.
Every employee should effortlessly reach the support services. Make sure the directory is easily accessible, user-friendly, and clear in its layout. If the directory is hard to navigate or find, it will be underutilised.
In multinational workplaces, cultural sensitivity is crucial in providing support services. It's essential to have resources that are culturally diverse and consider various cultural practices, taboos, and nuances.