Having an Employee Assistance Program isn’t enough!

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When I read about mental health initiatives implemented in the workplace I can’t help but think that it all sounds great, but that it doesn’t mean you have a mentally healthy workplace.  A good example of this is having an EAP (Employee Assistance Program).  I know that this may sound harsh and don’t get me wrong, I think an EAP is great for employees and is an important component of being mentally healthy workplace, but on its own it is simply not enough.

There are other initiatives that you hear of such as; support personnel, education to combat the stigma of mental illness, support for managers, and again I do appreciate they are an important part of the picture however I think most fail to see how normal business elements such as; culture, leadership, job design, team work, and communication, impact individual employee’s mental health.  In fact, those great initiatives won’t mean anything if culture, leadership, job design and so on are not part of the strategy.  In other words mentally healthy workplace initiatives, management and prevention needs to be part of just normal business activity not stand alone and separate initiatives.  If you’re serious about workplace mental health you have to have a holistic approach and build it into normal business not have standalone initiatives – together they work.   See more about how ensuring a ROI form your staff ensures a mentally healthy workplace.   A mentally healthy workplace isn’t a plan or program it is part of normal business and has to be to be truly effective.

In case you haven’t heard of it, Heads Up is a website aimed at giving individuals and businesses the tools to create more mentally healthy workplaces.  Heads Upalign with my views as they mention; communication, career progression, flexibility and workload and workplace culture’s importance in terms of creating mentally healthy workplaces.   The work environment can affect mental health – positively or negatively.  Make sure you have a positive impact in your business!

According to Heads Up, it is estimated that 45% of Australians will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime.  These conditions tend to affect people during their prime working years and as mentioned the work environment can affect mental health positively or negatively so let’s be proactive in our approach at work and strive to prevent mental health issues before we have to manage them or have them aggravated at work.

At HR Business Direction, we are passionate about both – helping our clients get a ROI from their people which also creates working environments that support and prevent mental health.  We believe this allows us to make a true difference in society – for businesses and individuals.

Don’t forget to ask RUOK? And not just on RUOK? Day on 11th September.  HR Business Direction are supporters of RUOK? in the promotion of regular, meaningful conversations in the workplace.

At HR Business Direction we are able to assist with developing a mentally healthy workplace and getting a return on investment from your people.  Contact us here.

For other relevant blogs from our team in support of RUOK? refer to:

RUOK Bubble

 Leisa Messer BBus(HRM); GradDipIR; CAHRI; IRSQ
Managing Director | HR Strategist
leisa.messer@hrbd.com.au
07 3890 2066
www.hrbd.com.au