Workplace mental health articles

Three tools to get your groove back ‘New normal’, ‘COVID normal’, ‘better normal’…. all phrases that have well and truly passed their used by date. There is no normal way to do life and most things in our life we are experiencing for the very first time. So, what is normal anyway, and in the rush back to normal, have we...

What a year it’s been The way the SuperFriend team have conducted themselves means we have come through this challenging year with an even deeper commitment to supporting people’s mental health and wellbeing, whilst achieving even more than in previous years! Mental Health is well and truly on the radar of every Australian and every...

PC Inquiry into Mental Health: What does it mean for super and insurance? Both reports recognise the need for an improved mental health system with a broader approach to non-clinical settings such as workplaces. A quick snapshot The general tenor of the reports is that all parts of the system need to better reflect the needs of...

Trust + Respect = Actions not words Trust and respect are built from a leader’s many actions. Stating the words “I trust you” and then micro-managing to task implies exactly the opposite. “I trust you” is only a short step away from the classic contradiction: “With all due respect.” Trust and respect are words better not uttered but acted.

NEW RESEARCH: Mental health of workers in 2020 – the unexpected results The survey of over 10,000 people showed clear benefits for those at organisations taking action related to mental health, including improved financial and mental health outcomes. Despite this, more than half of Australia's workers (55.1%) report their workplace is...

8 tips for riding COVID’s second wave Why? Well, apart from the fact that COVID stinks, for some reason it's taken this crisis for us to learn some very human lessons. Whether in my work with Superfriend and workplace mental health, my role with the AFL and Richmond Football Club, or even coaching a group of under-19 state...

Making the most of it – ways to spend your time when you’re out of work If you do find yourself out of work for a period of time, remember that if you need extra financial support you can contact Centrelink to explore your options. While you’re out of work, there are some simple practices you can adopt to make the most of your time, as...

Looking after your mental health when you’re out of work Developing a sense of self ‘What do you do?’ is a question you’re probably asked when you meet someone new. When you’re out of work, you might wonder how to answer that question. It’s something that lots of people find difficult if they’re in between jobs, and they’re worried...

Staying productive when working from home Working from home has grown as an option over the past decade, making it a legitimate and respected career or lifestyle choice - particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Why work from home? There are a number of reasons people work from home, including: As part of a flexible working...

A systems approach to good work design Work design looks at four workplace elements: the work, work systems, the physical working environment, and the workers and people in the organisation. The work – This looks at how work and individual tasks are performed, including their physical, mental and emotional demands; their duration,...

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Your leadership responsibilities during a crisis Keeping people physically and emotionally safe, communicating, monitoring changing needs, leadership, and getting people back to work – which includes providing support and flexibility. It IS your responsibility as an Executive to: Create and maintain a safe and supportive...

How to create a Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy In line with the Australian work health and safety (WHS) legislation, employers must take steps to protect workers against risks to their physical and mental health. Beyond adhering to these obligations, organisations that actively promote positive mental health see vast improvements in...

Plan for stress as a team Chronic or repeated exposure to these stressors can have a detrimental effect on performance and can lead to a range of physiological and psychological consequences (known as allostatic load), including cardiovascular disease, burnout, depression and anxiety. It is important for managers and their teams to...

Let’s have fun! However, you can also implement fun activities that provide important social connections, positive interactions between employees and that bolster ongoing change in a way that everyone enjoys. What do we mean by fun activities? Here are a few ideas: Celebrate! We spend far too much time at work for it to be as serious...

Connecting employees during physical distancing State and Federal governments in Australia are signalling that shutdown of schools and government offices could continue depending on how the virus behaves, while Australian employers are preparing for a prolonged period of enforced remote working in some states. Social or physical...

More helpful links and resources for COVID support It’s best to rely on information from credible sources during this time, such as: The Australian Government Department of Health The World Health Organisation Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia, National Seniors Australia, Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN)...

Action ideas to boost wellbeing Our response is to tell them that the chances are they are already engaging in a wide range of actions to promote workplace mental health and gathering a list of these can be a great starting point! Some of these things will be obvious, like providing a staff room that also helps your employees connect...

The business case for a mentally healthy workplace One in six working aged people are living with a mental illness. Beyond that, it’s believed there are more people experiencing mental health challenges ranging from high stress to undiagnosed depression. If your organisation isn’t incorporating mental health considerations into your...

Wellbeing checklist This wellbeing checklist is a guide for you to identify your current responses and behaviours and how they could be affecting your mental health and wellbeing. Importantly, it will help you work out which areas you may need to focus on to look after yourself, and ideas for how to stay well, regain balance or seek...

Standing up when times are tough And there is no time that leadership is more important than when an organisation is experiencing difficulty – either due to internal or external forces. Likewise, if an entire community goes through a crisis period like we are seeing with the bushfires throughout multiple Australian states, we need to...

Leader’s guide to supporting staff during COVID-19 As leaders, we always need to make sure we’re prepared to adapt and respond calmly to any unforeseen turbulence along the journey but this is not straightforward when faced with such a unique set of circumstances. COVID-19 has presented leaders of all types – from Heads of...

Looking after yourself as a leader Leaders often face difficult situations like these, and it can be tricky to support your team when you’re stressed. In crises, leaders need to be aware of their own emotions, health and wellbeing to be an effective leader. Helena Andrews, Positive Psychology expert at SuperFriend, gave us insight into...

Feeling overwhelmed by COVID19 – Seek formal support However, it is completely normal and important to seek support if you’re feeling overwhelmed by COVID-19, or during any difficult time for that matter. There are many avenues for support available, including: 1. Support through your employer Your employer may have a number...

Connect with a buddy It’s therefore vital to keep strong social connections, and to continue looking after ourselves and each other while retaining and strengthening our sense of community. Connecting with a wellness buddy could be a handy solution to ensure you prioritise staying connected. Buddy checklist ...

Claims management – best practice framework and support The insurance provided through our superannuation funds is critically important in supporting this - not only through the piece of mind that this cover provides, but the financial support when it’s needed most. The people working in the claims teams of our Insurance and ...

Five Ways to Wellbeing If you’re looking to improve the mental health and wellbeing of your organisation, the Five Ways to Wellbeing can be promoted within the workplace, through positive and aspirational messages and actions. Living the five actions shows that your workplace recognises the importance of good worker mental health. ...

Getting leadership buy-in Like all workplace initiatives, leadership support determines the success or failure of all efforts to improve employee wellbeing. Gaining leadership buy-in is one of the first crucial steps to building a thriving workplace that sets workers up to be their best. Give leaders a full understanding of the value...