Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace

Mental health problems don’t discriminate and can affect anyone at any age, with 1 in 5 Australians aged 16-85 having experienced a mental health condition or concern. That’s why it’s so important to care for your mental health by learning to recognise indicators of stress or depression and finding tools to help manage those feelings and concerns before they take over.

Health and wellbeing at work
Many of us spend a big part of our day at work, meaning that our workplaces can have an impact on our mental health, both positively and negatively. While the connection between physical hazards such as noise, dust and chemical hazards on health are visible and widely recognised, the relationship between mental and physical well-being in our jobs is hidden beneath the surface and is less recognisable.

Indicators include:

• Easily irritated, feeling restless, feel tired all the time, or lack of energy.
• Loss of interest in general day to day activities.
• Feeling down or that things are hopeless.
• Taking days off work.
• Self-medicating with alcohol or drugs.
• Mood swings.
• Poor performance.

If you recognise these changes in your own behaviour, it’s important to check in with yourself and seek support, as poor mental health can increase the likelihood of sleep disturbance and anxiety, leading to reduced ability to concentrate on work tasks and potential injury.

Stress
Stress levels play an important part in our overall mental wellbeing. While stress can be an unavoidable part of life at times, certain levels of stress are normal, and can even have a positive impact on our general attitude and can drive productivity and fuel energy levels. Excessive exposure to chronic stress however, has an accumulative effect and can be damaging to mental health.

Stress can be defined as “the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them.”

Stress has been associated with:

• Anxiety and depression
• Heart disease
• Exacerbation of chronic pain
• Gastrointestinal conditions

WorkPac encourages our people to speak with their supervisors about any factors outside the workplace that can turn the otherwise normal pressures of work into excessive ones.

Managing stress
If you are beginning to feel that stress and other factors are beginning to take an impact on your health, there are small things you can do that can make a real difference:

• Maintain contact with loved ones and friends.
• Eat three healthy meals per day and stay hydrated.
• Practice good sleep hygiene.
• Daily exercise is crucial, get outside in the fresh air and take in some sunlight, get up from your desk regularly and stretch.
• Distraction is useful if you are feeling overwhelmed – Read a book, listen to music, a podcast, or watch tv.
• Do something nice for someone else.
• Download the Gryphon Psych app (EAP), they have lots of tips, meditations, exercises and other useful resources; or give them a call to book a session with a counsellor. You can access Gryphon Psychology here.

While those can be great ways to improve your overall well-being, sometimes we need some extra support to get through a tough period. If you are struggling, or having feelings of suicide or self-harm, don’t wait. Seek urgent support:

• Lifeline has a 24-hour crisis line that you can call for support and many valuable resources on their website. You can call on 13 11 14 or visit their website.
• Beyond Blue has a 24-hour line you can reach on 1300 224 636 or visit their website for plenty of advice and information.
• Or call 000.