The Significance of Mental Health
Leadership in the Workplace
Lead the Conversation
Kate Carnell AO, CEO beyondblue
The Facts – depression and anxiety
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•
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Around 1 million Australian adults live with depression. Over
2million have an anxiety disorder
On average, one in three women and one in five men will have an
anxiety disorder in their lifetime
On average, one in five women and one in eight men will
experience depression in their lifetime
Males experience higher levels of substance use disorders, while
females experience higher levels of depression and anxiety
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Depression and anxiety can be as serious, debilitating and lifethreatening as a physical illness – yet less than half of those
experiencing depression seek help
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Effective treatments are available
© Beyond Blue Ltd
www.beyondblue.org.au
Impact on Workplaces
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3 to 4 days off work per month for each person experiencing
depression
•
Over 6 million working days lost each year in Australia
•
12 million days of reduced productivity each year
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$9,660 in absenteeism and lost productivity costs per full-time
employee with untreated depression each year ($650,000 per
annum per 1,000 employees)
•
Mental illnesses are concentrated in prime working years with the
highest rates of depressions and anxiety occurring in the 35-44
years age group.
© Beyond Blue Ltd
www.beyondblue.org.au
Psychological Injury in Workplaces
Accepted mental stress claims
Australian Government premium payers
Source: Comcare Submission to the House Standing Committee on Education and Employment Inquiry into Mental Health and Workforce Participation.
© Beyond Blue Ltd
www.beyondblue.org.au
Psychological Injury in Workplaces
Accepted mental stress claims with one week or more lost time
Australian Government premium payers
Source: Comcare Submission to the House Standing Committee on Education and Employment Inquiry into Mental Health and Workforce Participation.
© Beyond Blue Ltd
www.beyondblue.org.au
Impact on Economy
• Job-related depression costs the economy $730 million
every year.
• This equates to $11.8 billion over the average working
lifetime, with the biggest loss accruing to employers
through lost productivity.
• “Job Stress”, accounts for 17 per cent of depression in
working women and 13 per cent in working men.
© Beyond Blue Ltd
www.beyondblue.org.au
Factors Contributing to Job Stress
✗ High demands
✗ Low job control
✗ Work overload or pressure
✗ Lack of control and participation in decision making
✗ Unclear work role
✗ Job insecurity
✗ Long working hours
✗ Bullying, discrimination and harassment
✗ Poor communication
✗ Inadequate resources
© Beyond Blue Ltd
www.beyondblue.org.au
Protective Factors
✓ Strong leadership
✓ Strong morale
✓ Employee consultation and involvement in decision making
✓ Collaborative peer working relationships
✓ Effective training for managers and staff
✓ Effective mental health policies and programs
© Beyond Blue Ltd
www.beyondblue.org.au
What Can Leaders Do?
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Create a workplace culture that fosters good mental health using
the same levers as any other leadership based initiative
Performance
Workplace
Culture
Organisational
Values
Innovation
Leadership
Workforce
Strategic
Direction
Growth
Wellbeing
© Beyond Blue Ltd
www.beyondblue.org.au
Managers as Leaders
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Understand mental illness:
– Improve your mental health literacy and that of your staff
– Learn to identify workplace risks/hazards to mental health
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Understand the legislation:
– Reasonable adjustments
– Return to Work
– Disclosure
– Discrimination
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Effectively engage:
– Lead the conversation and initiate the change
– Beyondblue resources
© Beyond Blue Ltd
www.beyondblue.org.au
What you can do – the role of the
leadership team
• Commit to a long term approach
Create a mental health strategy that is consistent with the

vision, mission and values of your organization
 Champion prevention , early intervention and awareness raising
• Create a supportive workplace culture
 Address mental health issues proactively
 Be supportive
 Say it is OK
• Train and educate staff
• Get the balance right
 Reduce or eliminate risk factors
© Beyond Blue Ltd
www.beyondblue.org.au
Strategy Checklist
© Beyond Blue Ltd
www.beyondblue.org.au
beyondblue initiatives
 Systematic Literature Reviews – links between workplace
and mental health, effective interventions, gaps
 Leadership strategy – e learning module
 Good practice guide for employers – practical steps
 Tools & resources
• Contact - [email protected] or 03 9810 6121
• Website - www.beyondblue.org.au/workplace
© Beyond Blue Ltd
www.beyondblue.org.au
Thought for the conference
You do not need one of these
LEAD THE CONVERSATION
© Beyond Blue Ltd
www.beyondblue.org.au
The Significance of Mental Health
Leadership in the Workplace
Lead the Conversation
Questions or comments