Workplace Stress - What Shape is your Organisation in? Day Hospitals Australia Conference1 September 2017

Nick Arvanitis, Head of Workplace Research and Resources, beyondblue

Overview

1.Mental health in the workplace

2.Creating a mentally healthy workplace

3.What shape is your organisation in?

4.beyondblue resources

What is workplace stress?

“……. the physical, mental and emotional reactions of workers who perceive that their work demands exceed their abilities and/or their resources (such as time, help/support) to do the work.”

SafeWork NSW

Workplace risk factors for mental health

GENERAL

✗ Long working hours

✗ Low job control

✗Work overload or pressure

✗ Lack of control

✗ Lack of participation in decision making

✗ Unclear work role

✗ Poor communication

✗ Limited resources

✗ Bullying, discrimination and harassment

Workplace risk factors for mental health

SPECIFIC TO DAY HOSPITALS?

✗ High expectations of consumers

✗ Demanding roles

✗ Impact of sentinel events (when they occur)

✗ High levels of responsibility

✗ Strong cultural pressures (e.g. patient first)

✗ Less supports in smaller hospitals

✗Mobile staff (less opportunity to establish close working relationships)

✗ Greater access to means (suicide risk)

GENERAL

✗ Long working hours

✗ Low job control

✗Work overload or pressure

✗ Lack of control

✗ Lack of participation in decision making

✗ Unclear work role

✗ Poor communication

✗ Limited resources

✗ Bullying, discrimination and harassment

Workplace protective factors for mental health

✓ Positive & supportive leadership

✓ Flexible working arrangements

✓ Employee participation in decision making

✓ Support from colleagues and managers

✓ Effective mental health training for managers and staff

✓ Recognising and rewarding work

✓Managing change effectively

✓ Organisational fairness

Mental health as a continuum

Health professionals & mental health

Generally, health professionals are healthier, more resilient and live longer than the general population but…

• Nurses experience higher rates of stress-related health conditions

• 3.4% of doctors experience very high psychological distress (2.6% in wider community)

• Doctors & nurses have higher suicide rates compared with the general population

• 59% of doctors believe that being a patient for a mental health condition causes embarrassment for a doctor

The ‘disconnect’ between leaders &

employees

BELIEFS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH

IN THE WORKPLACE

In my workplace there is/are… Employees Leaders

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Information about workplaces’ legal responsibilities 45% 72%

Mental health return to work policy 44% 74%

Policies to support staff with mental health condition 44% 70%

Leadership commitment to mental health 37% 71%

Employee input to planning around mental health programs 25% 57%

Overview

1.Mental health in the workplace

2.Creating a mentally healthy workplace

3.What shape is your organisation in?

4.beyondblue resources

Good for people & the community

Improved wellbeing & quality of life of all staff & their families

Healthy staff, healthy consumers

Good for hospitals

Reduced absenteeism, ‘presenteeism,, & stress claims

Increased employee engagement

Be a great place to work - attract and retain talent

Meeting legal obligations

The benefits

OUTLINE

1. Mental health & nurses

2. Creating a mentally healthy workplace

3. What’s my role?

4. Heads Up initiative – website/generic, health services, small business/health se

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Key steps in creating a mentally healthy workplace

An integrated approach

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An integrated approach based on Tony LaMontagne’s integrated approach model

Creating a mentally healthy workplace

A ‘mentally healthy workplace’ where all staff:

• address mental health risk & protective factors

• create environments where people who are unwell are encouraged to seek support &have equal opportunities

• support others who are experiencing poor mental health

• promote positive mental health and positive working environments.

Importance of senior leadership

Overview

1.Mental health in the workplace

2.Creating a mentally healthy workplace

3.What shape is your organisation in?

4.beyondblue resources

Mentally healthy workplaces in Australia

Step 1: Are your leaders committed?

Ensure that all employees have an up-to-date job description which includes role purpose, reporting relationships and key duties expected of them

Do they speak openly about mental health?

Are they supportive & approachable?

Do they actively support & participate in mental health events/activities?

Do they understand their legal responsibilities (e.g. WHS/OHS, anti-discrimination, privacy)?

Have they committed human & financial resources?

Step 2: Do you understand the issues?

Ensure that all employees have an up-to-date job description which includes role purpose, reporting relationships and key duties expected of them

Have you sought feedback from your staff?

Do you know what the biggest stressors are for your staff?

Have you identified what you already have in place & where there might be gaps?

Have you reviewed any workplace data?

Have you identified your priorities?

Do you have an achievable action plan or strategy?

Has the plan/strategy been developed in collaboration with staff?

Are you working towards actions that cover off on the three key areas - protection, support and promotion?

Do you have someone responsible for overseeing the plan or strategy?

Are actions integrated into existing workplace activities?

Step 3: Do you have a strategy or

action plan?

Have you created a baseline to measure against?

Have you sought feedback from staff & other key groups (e.g. family members)?

Have you determined what success looks like and how you’ll measure and sustain it?

Have you reviewed the impact of your plan?

Step 4: Are you monitoring &

reviewing?

Overview

1.Mental health in the workplace

2.Creating a mentally healthy workplace

3.What shape is your organisation in?

4.beyondblue resources

24

Oct 2013

National Mental Health

Survey of Doctors and

Medical Students

Jun 2014

AMA and beyondblue round table

Jun 2015

Working dinner

medical profession

2015-16

Direct engagement

with Victorian

health services

Aug 2017

Developing a workplace mental health strategy: A how-to guide for health services

beyondblue’s Health Services Program

beyondblue’s Health Services Guide

Aim

» To develop a practical, step-by-step guide on how to develop and implement a sustainable mental health and wellbeing strategy, specifically for Australian health services

Target audience

» Primary – OHS, Wellbeing, HR, Risk Managers

Secondary audience

» Senior Leadership – Board, executive team, CMO’s

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Heads Up website (www.headsup.org.au)

Healthy Workplaces

Your Mental Health

Supporting Others

‘What would you do?’ online resource

Training & Resources

Resources

• beyondblue Support Service – Get immediate support by calling 1300 22 46 36 or visiting www.beyondblue.org.au/getsupport

• Heads Up website (www.headsup.org.au) – Tools & resources for individuals and organisations focusing on mental health in the workplace

• beyondblue website (www.beyondblue.org) – Learn more about anxiety, depression and suicide

Questions &discussion