Your how-to: Providing access to online mental health education resources
Providing access to online mental health education resources refers to the process of making digital mental health education resources available for all employees within your organisation. These resources offer information and guidance on a wide array of topics related to mental wellbeing. This might include e-books, webinars, and video training on topics such as stress management, recognising signs of mental distress, promoting self-care, etc. As mental health awareness becomes more embedded in our societal conversation, these resources are crucial to make sure that employees feel supported and understand how to support others.
Factoring in Australian context, this process aligns with the National Workplace Initiative by the Australian Government, which emphasises mental health and wellbeing support at workplaces. This step does not just reflect good practice - it aligns with evolving expectations on employers nationwide. Hence, providing these resources is not only an investment in the wellbeing of employees, but also ensures that your organisation adheres to emerging standards of employee care in Australia.
Step by step instructions
Identify Information Needs: Assess your employees' current knowledge about mental health and identify the areas where they require further information or training. You can do this through surveys, informal one-on-ones, or departmental meetings.
Curate Valued Content: Based on your employees' information needs, select resources that are most relevant and beneficial. Ensure resources are from reputable sources, are user-friendly, and are accessible to individuals with varying levels of knowledge regarding mental health.
Develop Internal Distribution Channels: Set up internal mechanisms to make these resources easily accessible to workers. This could be through a dedicated section on your company intranet, an email newsletter, or as links within your HR system.
Encourage Utilisation: Motivate employees to utilise these resources by demonstrating upper management's engagement with them. Additionally, consider offering incentives or integrating their use into professional development plans.
Research Relevant Resources: Investigate what mental health education resources are available online. This could range from e-books, webinars, and video training, focusing on varied topics like stress management, recognising signs of mental distress, the importance of self-care, etc.
Align with National Workplace Initiative: Make sure the selected resources align with the National Workplace Initiative by the Australian Government. This initiative emphasises promoting mental health and wellbeing in workplaces.
Communicate Availability of Resources: Inform your employees about these new resources. This could be through staff meetings, internal communications, or bulletins. Make sure to highlight the value of these resources and how they can be accessed.
Gather Feedback: Periodically, seek employee feedback on the usefulness and relevance of these resources. This will help you adjust your curation strategy over time, ensuring that the resources remain/have the most impact on your employees’ mental health and wellbeing.
Use this template to implement
To ensure you can execute seamlessly, download the implementation template.
Pitfalls to avoid
Australians greatly value their privacy, especially when it comes to personal issues like mental health. If your employees feel like their use of these resources isn't strictly confidential, they might be hesitant to use them. Be sure to implement strict privacy checks to ensure the information shared in these resources is protected.
Under the Australian Fair Work Act, it is crucial for employers to provide a safe and healthy environment for their employees. This includes mental health. If you don't comply, you risk contravening the law and potentially facing legal penalties.
You might fail if you don't engage mental health professionals in the process of selecting and implementing these resources. They can provide important insights, helping you choose the most effective resources for your workers.
Australia is a culturally diverse country with different mental health stigmas, understandings, and approaches differing across communities. Failing to consider the cultural diversity of your staff can create misunderstanding and reduce resource effectiveness.
Online resources can be intricate, especially for less tech-savvy employees. It's essential to provide necessary training to staff for navigating these online resources for effective use.
Mental health awareness and treatment plans evolve continuously, so it's vital to regularly review and update your resources. If they're outdated or irrelevant, they will not be as beneficial as they could be.