Very useful workplace mental health guidelines released

The Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research (ISCRR) has released a set of guidelines for the prevention of mental health problems at work. Such guidelines have been sorely required in Australia where workplace mental health problems have become an increasing problem for workers and organisations and workplace bullying dominates the policy landscape. It recommends the development of a mental health and wellbeing strategy that includes the following elements:

  • “the development of a positive work environment that supports and encourages mental health
  • balancing job demands with job control
  • appropriately rewarding employees efforts
  • creating a fair workplace
  • provision of workplace supports
  • effective management of performance issues
  • provision of training to develop management and leadership skills
  • supportive change management processes
  • development of a mental health and wellbeing policy
  • provision of mental health education.” (page 1)

This is an enormous task but one that has to be undertaken if the cost and social impact of psychosocial workplace hazards are to be prevented or minimised.

It is unlikely that many companies will have sufficient resources or, at the moment, motivation to implement such a strategy.  Some have already begun part of the strategy under the various organisational culture changes but to most these strategic elements will be major challenges.  The challenge is likely to be unavoidable but some will see this as an additional, and possibly unjustified, business cost.

Depression and Workplace Bullying

Coincidentally, in June 2013 Safe Work Australia (SWA) released a survey report outlining “The relationship between work characteristics, wellbeing, depression and workplace bullying“.  The summary report says that the practical implication of the research is that:

“Adequate support from colleagues and managers and fair reward for effort may help to prevent the occurrence or minimise the consequences of depression and workplace bullying.” (page 2)

In layman’s terms, play well with each other, show respect and treat people with dignity and fairness.  Not a radical OHS and wellbeing agenda.

The SWA report has not garnered a great deal of media attention yet and there is the risk that the findings could be “over-egged” with bullying getting the most attention.  However the report includes findings on other areas of human resources and organisational conduct, such as

  • work-related injury,
  • sick leave,
  • managerial support, and
  • work benefits.

The SWA report deserves attention for the robustness of the findings but Safe Work Australia needs to do more or increase the emphasis on what businesses could do about the findings.  This is where the ISCRR guidelines are so attractive.  The SWA report does provide some guarded suggestions which SWA needs to flesh out.  On page 15, the summary report says

“…a potential practical implication of these findings is that awareness of the consequences of adverse work characteristics and promotion of personal resources may help to prevent the occurrence or minimise the consequences of workplace bullying and depression.”

(Again with the focus on “awareness”.  Awareness does not equate to action and it is action that reduces harm.  OHS professionals and policy makers must develop strategies to activate the awareness.)

The SWA report adds to our knowledge of the effects of bullying but surely there is already sufficient knowledge on this hazard for companies and governments to act.  Safe Work Australia’s draft bullying code of practice is a good place to start but ISCRR’s mental health and wellbeing guidelines are so much more useful.  A couple of examples of the guideline’s advice or findings:

“Being treated unfairly at work is linked to an increased risk of mental health problems.” (page 5)

“Being inadequately rewarded (e.g. wages, promotion, job security, positive feedback) for work efforts increases the risk of mental health problems.” (page 5)

“As part of their leadership role, senior management should hold supervisors and managers at all levels accountable for maintaining a mentally healthy workplace and encourage them to have an open and understanding attitude to what people say to them about the pressures of their work or other problems.” (page 3)

As with OHS/WHS legislative duties there are recommendations for employee actions on mental health and wellbeing so the load is not only on the shoulders of the business operators and employers.

The ISCRR guidelines deserve a great deal of attention, consideration and discussion.  They are the closest I have seen to anyone in Australia outlining a strategy that encompasses the range of mental health issues in Australian workplaces.  Significantly, the guidelines address mental health issues generated by work rather than the work impact of non-work related mental health issues, as was the focus several years ago.

ISCRR says these guidelines are the “first part of a major project led by the University’s Associate Professor Tony Lamontagne” (link added).  The next stages are eagerly anticipated.

Kevin Jones

 

reservoir, victoria, australia

4 thoughts on “Very useful workplace mental health guidelines released”

  1. Interesting article about how people are treated at work is linked to mental health problems. Thanks for bringing this issue up – great post!

  2. Dear everyone!

    My name is Alexandra Pankasz and I am doing a Masters course in Occupational Psychology at the University of Nottingham. I conduct an academic study that aims to assess how people make judgements on situations when their co-workers may be mistreated by others at the workplace. I believe that academic research has to look at the bigger picture regarding bullying and should not treat it as an isolated incident that affects solely those directly involved. Bullying takes place hardly ever in secret. Most often than not, there are others around who see bullying happening. I aim to identify the factors that influence the observers’ responses.

    I would like to invite you to complete a questionnaire that will not take longer than 8-10minutes. This study has been reviewed and given a favourable opinion by the Institute of Work Health & Organisations Research Ethics Committee of the University of Nottingham.
    I aim to collect a very large international sample, thus I would really appreciate your help with completing the survey and sharing the link with people who you think may be willing to participate in the research. Workplace bullying is a serious issue that has not received sufficient academic interest previously. I hope I may contribute to further research into the topic and promote more awareness amongst both researchers and the general public.
    Your participation would be greatly appreciated and would make a huge contribution to my research study.

    You may access the survey here: https://www.soscisurvey.de/researchpankasz/

    Many thanks!

    Kind regards,
    Alexandra Pankasz

  3. Hi Kevin,
    I would be interested in your thoughts on how this would be achieved in the \”blue collar\” small business sector at a practical level for employers of 20 or less people.

Leave a Reply to Nicole Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Concatenate Web Development
© Designed and developed by Concatenate Aust Pty Ltd