BUSINESSES RISK LEGAL ACTION BY FAILING TO TACKLE MENTAL HEALTH

August 24, 2014

Media Statement

WA BUSINESSES RISK LEGAL ACTION BY FAILING TO TACKLE MENTAL HEALTH

A leading WA expert is warning many Australian businesses are at risk of costly legal action by failing to effectively tackle mental health issues in the workplace.

Workplace mental health strategist Tasha Broomhall, of consultancy Blooming Minds, will this Wednesday (August 27) tell the 2014 Mental Health Services Conference in Perth the evidence was mounting that companies remained in the dark about their legal obligations when dealing with staff experiencing mental health issues.

“Research we’ve recently done adds weight to our first-hand experience, and other investigations by groups like SANE Australia and Beyond Blue, showing that mental health awareness in the workplace is still well below acceptable standards,” said Ms Broomhall.

“In our study of 102 people, the majority of participants that reported trying to talk to their employer about their mental health issue said their disclosure had an adverse impact on their mental health; in some cases, the bullying and harassment present in the workplace actually got worse for them.

“This is a very clear indicator that workplaces don’t have the innate 'know-how' to best support their staff, increasing the risk of extensive human and economic costs.”

A 2013 SANE Australia survey* found a majority of the 520 participants said no support had been provided to them at work when mentally unwell, and that only 43 percent of managers had an understanding of mental illness.

To help businesses meet their obligations, Blooming Minds has just launched an online course aimed at ensuring supervisors, managers and team leaders understand their roles and legal responsibilities.

“Given it’s illegal in Australia to discriminate against people experiencing mental health issues and that companies must provide reasonable workplace adjustments to support staff with mental illness, these findings indicate change is needed,” said Ms Broomhall.

“If nearly 6 out of 10 of managers don’t understand the signs, symptoms and indicators of mental illness, they’re unlikely to respond appropriately in the workplace, unlikely to support staff and – critically – are likely to increase the personal impact on the worker involved, as well as the economic impact on the organisation.”

Australian businesses lose $10.9 billion each year by failing to address mental health issues in the workplace (through absenteeism, presenteeism and compensation claims,) according to BeyondBlue, which has also identified that for each $1 invested in mental health in the workplace, there is a $2.30 return on investment. 

“Businesses across the country can no longer afford not to act,” said Ms Broomhall.

“Our recommendation is that they ramp up their focus by having a clear policy and procedure, that supervisors and managers be trained in recognising and dealing with mental health issues, and that mental health safety procedures are implemented as a priority.”

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