Your how-to: Implementing regular mental health workshops
Implementing regular workplace mental health workshops refers to the systematic introduction and continuous running of short, targeted training sessions devoted to promoting and preserving mental wellbeing in your employees. The workshops can be curated to cover a range of topics like understanding mental health, strategies for managing stress, recognising signs of a mental health issue, providing peer support, and learning about mental health first aid.
The objective is to create an environment of openness and understanding about mental health, reduce stigma and offer practical strategies that would help employees thrive both personally and professionally. They can be designed and delivered by internal staff trained in mental health or external mental health professionals as per the needs of the organisation.
In an Australian context, these workshops also align well with the mental health standards laid out by Safe Work Australia, which call for proactive measures by organisations to safeguard their employees' mental health.
Step by step instructions
Conduct a Mental Health Needs Assessment: Analyse the current mental health status and needs within your organisation to tailor the workshops accordingly. Use anonymous surveys, individual interviews or focus groups to understand the specific topics that your workshops should cover. Investigate the level of knowledge and understanding of mental health issues among your staff.
Determine the Format: Decide on the format of the workshops. They can be interactive seminars, lecture-style presentations, small group discussions, or online webinars. The format should be engaging and conducive to learning.
Develop the Content: Plan and develop the content of the workshops based on your original needs assessment. Ensure the workshops are engaging, practical, and beneficial to your employees. Include resources for further help and support.
Deliver the Workshops: Implement the workshops according to your plan. Ensure the sessions are inclusive, non-judgemental and safe for everyone. Encourage feedback from the participants to continually improve and provide more effective sessions.
Align with Australian Mental Health Standards: Familiarise yourself with Safe Work Australia's mental health standards and ensure that your workshops align with these guidelines. This important step not only ensures legal compliance but promotes best practice within your organisation.
Identify the Facilitators: Identify who will facilitate the workshops. Consider a mix of internal staff trained in mental health issues and external mental health professionals. Hiring external professionals can bring in outside expertise, but make sure they understand the culture of your organisation for the best impact.
Promote the Workshops: Plan a robust communication strategy to promote the workshops within your organisation. Make sure the staff understands the purpose and benefits of these workshops. Encourage everyone to attend and foster an open dialogue around mental health.
Establish Regular Schedule: Establish a regular schedule for these workshops as this is not a one-off initiative. Regular sessions will continuously raise awareness, educate employees, and foster a supportive work environment.
Use this template to implement
To ensure you can execute seamlessly, download the implementation template.
Pitfalls to avoid
It's crucial to acquaint yourself with the current regulations and guidelines surrounding mental health in Australia, such as the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the Fair Work Act 2009. A lapse in legal knowledge could lead to violations and have repercussions on your organisation, the individuals involved, and the effectiveness of the workshops themselves.
Before starting a mental health workshop, ensure that each participant has been adequately informed about the contents, procedures, benefits, and potential risks of the workshop, and has given their explicit consent.
Just presenting a mental health workshop is not enough. There should be clear actions or programmes that employees can follow after the workshop, such as regular check-ins or additional resources.
Implementing mental health workshops should never be performed without the involvement of professionals who specialize in mental health. It can be detrimental, misleading, or even harmful to participants if the workshops are led by someone without proper qualifications.
Your workplace may house a mosaic of different cultures, beliefs, and attitudes. Ensure your workshops are inclusive, respectful, less generic and more tailored to your organisation's uniqueness.
Mental health workshops will likely call for collection of personal data. It's crucial to respect privacy laws and adhere to the Australian Privacy Principles. Personal information must be securely stored and only used for the purpose it was collected for.