What is a mentally healthy workplace?
A mentally healthy workplace is one where workers and management collaborate to protect and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of all.
Maintaining a mentally healthy workplace involves continually addressing health, safety and wellbeing concerns in and due to, the work environment. This includes the:
- organisation and design of work
- workplace culture
- physical environment
- facilities provided.
Through creating mentally healthy workplaces, organisations can make a valuable contribution to improving the mental health of their workers. We spend a lot of time at work, and it has a significant impact on our lives. Using this part of life to make a positive impact on mental health is a good idea.
Why is creating a mentally healthy workplace important?
Preventing harm to mental health and wellbeing is important because:
It’s the law – workplaces and management have an obligation to prevent harm to the health and safety of workers
It’s the right thing to do – leaders and managers have a social and corporate responsibility
It’s the smart thing to do – making mental health a priority in the workplace makes good business sense and helps contribute to a higher performing Western Australian economy.
What can I do?
The mental wellbeing of people at work is good for everyone and enhances personal and organisational success. Everyone has a role to play, both in looking after their own mental health and creating a mentally healthy workplace.
Mentally Healthy Workplaces Technical Guide (“Technical Guide”) and associated Mentally Healthy Workplaces Audit Tool (“Audit Tool”) will assist duty holders in meeting meet their work health and safety legal obligations as outlined in The Code of Practice Mentally Healthy Workplaces for Fly-in, Fly-out Workers in Resources and Construction Sectors.
If you are interested in receiving updates on the topic of mentally healthy workplaces and would like to participate in a review of DMIRS Mentally Healthy Workplaces Technical Guide and Audit tool please send an email to mentallyhealthyworkplaces@dmirs.wa.gov.au.
Find out what you can do to promote and protect mental health in your workplace.
