An integrated approach to workplace mental health and

Lifeline: 13 11 14 – Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

An integrated approach to workplace mental health and

suicide prevention

Jorgen GullestrupMSuicidology, DipComWelfare&Dev

V.2


Agenda:

My story

Why bother with workplace mental health and suicide prevention

Three models for workplace approaches

Activities within the models

How to get started





Why bother with workplace mental health and suicide prevention?



Why Bother?

It is the Law

It is good business

You care for your people


What’s Coming:

Industrial Manslaughter Legislation

More Workplace Health and Safety Focus on Mental Health

Codes of Practice – Psychosocial Work Environment

Qld Suicide Prevention Plan 2019-2029

Increased competition for staff

Increased focus on social license to operate


Three models for a mentally healthier workplace


LAMONTAGNE, A. D., SHANN, C. & MARTIN, A. 2018. Developing an Integrated Approach to Workplace Mental Health: A Hypothetical Conversation with a Small Business Owner. Annals of Work Exposures and Health, 62, S93-S100.






Prevent harm(LaMontagne)

Protect (NMHC)

Reduce harmful impacts of work (MATES)


Model Work Health and Safety Act:

Primary duty of care

A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health

and safety of workers while at work

A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the health and safety of other persons is not put at risk from work carried out as part of the conduct of the

business or undertaking.



You are not responsible for workers mental health, only for the risks and hazards created from the workplace.


Hierarchy of Controls

Eliminate

Substitute

Engineer

Administrate

PPEs

Most Effective

Least Effective

Avoid the hazardous process

Use a less hazardous process

Separate from the hazard

Train to avoid the hazard

Individual Protection Against Hazard


1. Role conflict (0.41)

2. Organizational injustice (0.37)

3. Role ambiguity (0.35)

4. Job insecurity (0.31)

5. Interpersonal conflict (0.31)

6. Role overload (0.3)

7. Low job support (0.27)

8. Low reward and recognition (0.26)

9. Low job control (0.23)

10. Work underload (0.22)

11. Cognitive demand (0.22)

12. Lack of career development (0.2)

13. Safety concerns (0.2)

14. Lack of training** (0.02)

SUN, C., HON, C. K. H., WAY, K. A., JIMMIESON, N. L. & XIA, B. 2022. The relationship between psychosocial hazards and mental health in the construction industry: A meta-analysis. Safety Science, 145, 105485.

Meta analysis of 41 Studies



As a minimum:

Hazard identification and managementꓼ Interpersonal factors (Bullying and Harassment, workplace culture)

ꓼ Environmental factors (Physical conditions, nature of work etc.)

ꓼ Work organisational factors (Management, working hours, etc.)

Create an environment where people feel safe

Ensure training of supervisory staff in legal obligations

The dangers of resilience training!


Promote the positive (All models)


Promote the positive

Personal and professional development

Meaningful connection

Rewards for positive behaviours

Opportunities to shape their work

Celebrate diversity and inclusion

Meaning and purpose

Holistic Health and Wellbeing programs

Team work approaches


Large Study 6968 Participants

Companies applying a range of Wellbeing programs

Improvement from base line

No mitigating on MH hazards

Health and Wellbeing Programs Predict Changes in Health and Wellbeing? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 8964.


Promote Mental Health and suicide prevention literacy (MATES Model)

Facilitate Early Intervention(MATES Model)


A Services Focused Model

Suicide Call Back

Emergency Department

Mental Health Plans

Group Therapy

Police

Anti-depressants

Headspace

Cognitive Behavioural

Therapy

Beyondblue

General Practitioner

Acute Care Team Supervisors

Employee Assistance

program

Peer support Groups

Lifeline

Mindfulness Training


A Workplace Model

Suicide Call Back


Mental Health Plans

Group Therapy

Police

Anti-depressants

Headspace


Therapy

Beyondblue



Employee Assistance

program

Peer support Groups

Lifeline



A Workplace Model

Suicide Call Back


Mental Health Plans

Group Therapy

Police

Anti-depressants

Headspace


Therapy

Beyondblue



Employee Assistance

program

Peer support Groups

Lifeline



A Workplace Model

Suicide Call Back


Mental Health Plans

Group Therapy

Police

Anti-depressants

Headspace


Therapy

Beyondblue



Employee Assistance

program

Peer support Groups

Lifeline



Livingworks:

Start

safeTALK

ASIST

EAP Support


Close family, Friends, GP, Psychologists, Counsellors, Workmates, Intimate partner – the most likely place for help-seeking. Supervisors are consistently the least likely target for help-seeking


Manage Illness (LaMontagne)

Respond (NMHC)

Provide Return to work pathways (MATES)


Manage Illness and Mental Healt

Early detection

Focus on ability

Return to / stay at work policy

Multiple pathways to support

Tailored approaches

Lived Experience


How to get stareted


Key principles:

1. Consult and Listen

2. Engage Decision makers

3. Link action and outcomes

4. Lines of accountability

5. Make it business as usual

6. Be transparent

7. Be evidence based

8. Review and improve


Trust As a mediator

BULIŃSKA-STANGRECKA, H. & BAGIEŃSKA, A. 2021. The Role of Employee Relations in Shaping Job Satisfaction as an Element Promoting Positive Mental Health at Work in the Era of COVID-19. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 1903.


ReferencesBULIŃSKA-STANGRECKA, H. & BAGIEŃSKA, A. 2021. The Role of Employee Relations in Shaping Job Satisfaction as an Element Promoting

Positive Mental Health at Work in the Era of COVID-19. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 1903.

DANIELS, K., FIDA, R., STEPANEK, M. & GENDRONNEAU, C. 2021. Do Multicomponent Workplace Health and Wellbeing Programs PredictChanges in Health and Wellbeing? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,18, 8964.

HELLER, T. S., HAWGOOD, J. L. & DE LEO, D. 2007. Correlates of Suicide in Building Industry Workers. Archives of Suicide Research, 11, 105-117.

LAMONTAGNE, A. D., SHANN, C. & MARTIN, A. 2018. Developing an Integrated Approach to Workplace Mental Health: A Hypothetical Conversation with a Small Business Owner. Annals of Work Exposures and Health, 62, S93-S100.

MATES in Construction. 2018. The Australian Building and Construction Industry Blueprint for Better Mental Health and Suicide Prevention 2018-2022. MATES in Construction, Brisbane.

NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION 2021 Blueprint for Mentally Healthy Workplaces, Release 1 September 2021.

ROSS, V., CATON, N., GULLESTRUP, J. & KÕLVES, K. 2020a. A Longitudinal Assessment of Two Suicide Prevention Training Programs for the Construction Industry. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 17.

ROSS, V., CATON, N., MATHIEU, S., GULLESTRUP, J. & KÕLVES, K. 2020b. Evaluation of a Suicide Prevention Program for the Energy Sector. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, 6418.

SAYERS, E., RICH, J., RAHMAN, M. M., KELLY, B. & JAMES, C. 2019. Does Help Seeking Behavior Change Over Time Following a Workplace Mental Health Intervention in the Coal Mining Industry? Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 61, e282-e290.

SUN, C., HON, C. K. H., WAY, K. A., JIMMIESON, N. L. & XIA, B. 2022. The relationship between psychosocial hazards and mental health in the construction industry: A meta-analysis. Safety Science, 145, 105485.


Jorgen Gullestrup

E-mail: [email protected]

Mobile: 0417 712 758

Feedback please;

mailto:[email protected]

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An integrated approach to workplace mental health and