Dear Editor,
I am writing to let your readers know about Heads Up a new campaign beyondblue has launched to promote mentally healthy workplaces. We want business owners and leaders to place just as much importance on people’s mental health as they do on their physical health and safety. And we have a new website to help businesses to take action to improve mental health in their workplace – www.headsup.org.au
In a new Instinct and Reason survey of more than 500 business owners and managers, around half (45%) agreed that workplace mental health is a problem, but not a major cost to the business and almost as many (43%) agreed that businesses have more important issues to think about.
I believe they may reconsider their position if they knew that a PriceWaterhouseCoopers report last week found that through absenteeism, decreased productivity and compensation claims, mental health in the workplace costs the Australian economy $10.9 billion a year.
So I invite business leaders and bosses to check out our headsup.org.au website to find out what they can do to make their workplaces mental health friendly. If you’re an employee, show this letter to your boss or check out the Heads Up website yourself.
Mentally healthy workplaces are those that people look forward to attending, are sensitive to individuals’ needs, and where employees and managers are supportive of each other.
Georgie Harman
CEO beyondblue
Hawthorn West, Victoria 3122