Your how-to: Setting up a basic internal webpage for mental health resources
Setting up a basic internal webpage for mental health resources at your place of work involves creating a dedicated online space wherein employees can access essential tools and services pertaining to mental wellbeing. This space acts as an important channel to offer support materials, information, advice, and, where necessary, referral pathways related to mental health.
The webpage can include features like self-help resources, videos on well-being at work, counselling service contacts, practical exercises for stress management, and information about mental health first aid. The goal is to help employees better understand mental health, promote early intervention and create a supportive work culture.
From an Australian context, it's particularly essential that any resources align with our national mental health strategy and are sensitive to unique regional challenges and cultures. It should also ideally offer guidance about accessing external resources, including those provided via Medicare, the Headspace Initiative, and other state or territory-specific mental health services.
Remember, setting up an internal webpage isn't a remedy on its own but a part of a broader proactive approach to employee mental wellbeing that's key to delivering better individual and organisational outcomes.
Step by step instructions
Define the Scope of the Webpage: Start by outlining what you aim to achieve with your mental health resources webpage. Ask yourself: - What kind of resources are you planning to provide? - How detailed should these resources be, and how interactive should the webpage be? - How accessible will these resources be to employees?
Consult Relevant Stakeholders: Engage relevant stakeholders in the planning process. Discuss with HR, management, and possibly employees to get their input and buy-in for the webpage. Involve any mental health first aiders within your workplace. Also, consider consulting with an external mental health professional where appropriate.
Create the Content: Begin generating and collating the content. Make sure it's engaging, accessible, and accurate. Content can include videos, blogs, articles, interactive self-assessments, useful links, and emergency contact details. Remember to touch upon issues relevant to your workforce and the wider Australian context, if required.
Get Professional Approval: Before launching the webpage, it's crucial to get final approval from a mental health professional to ensure the content is sound and supportive.
Conduct Thorough Research: Research both internal and external potential resources thoroughly to ensure they are appropriate, authoritative, and align with Australia's national mental health strategy. These can range from self-help tools and stress management techniques to information about mental health first aid and counselling services.
Design the Webpage Layout: Plan the webpage layout, ensuring it's user-friendly and accessible on all devices. Ideally, organise the content into easy-to-read sections. You might have a video section, FAQ, list of resources and tools, and emergency contacts, to name a few.
Review and Proofread: After creating the content, go through each part carefully. Prove for errors, factual accuracy, and consistency in tone. Ask a colleague to proofread it.
Launch & Promote the Webpage: Once your webpage is ready and approved, it's time to introduce it to employees. Promote it through multiple internal channels – email, intranet, team meetings, etc.
Use this template to implement
To ensure you can execute seamlessly, download the implementation template.
Pitfalls to avoid
Mental health is a sensitive subject, and employees may hesitate to use resources if privacy isn't assured. Comply with Australia's privacy laws and regulations like the "Privacy Act 1988". Ensure that any personal information collected on the website is protected and used appropriately.
When setting up a webpage of this nature, it’s crucial to have a detailed understanding of the needs and responses of your employees. If the users don't find the page engaging or helpful, they may not seek out necessary resources. Have a clear grasp of what the employees are looking for and their accessibility requirements.
It's essential to consider if every piece of advice or resource you offer complies with Australia's mental health laws, like the "Mental Health Services Act 2016". Any misstep could present legal issues. Always consult a lawyer or professional when unsure.
Mental health information and advice are continuously evolving. If your page is not updated frequently, it may give outdated information or resources that are no longer effective. Have a plan to maintain, update frequently, and provide continuous support to users.
The staff managing the webpage should be well-trained to address mental health matters and assist users. Lack of training could lead to misinformation or inadequate support for employees. Consider hiring professionals or arrange mandatory training for the staff involved.
The design of the webpage should be user-friendly and straightforward. If the webpage is complicated or hard to navigate, users may get frustrated and abandon it. Aim for a clean, simple design that makes information readily accessible.