Topic Tuesday // Employment and Mental Health // Tues 8th June, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

---

@Daisydreamer wrote:
Hi @chibam such a great question! I might also flag your question for @Ultravox as they work in a TAFE and might have some ideas about who can link you in with roles that suit your skills and interests.

You are right about finding the right job and finding the things that matter the most to you in a role. Such a great list you have mentioned that contribute to a positive work experience! Have you had conversations with those in your team about how important finding meaningful work is to you? Are they receptive?

---

Hi @Daisydreamer

I don't currantly have a "team" - largely because, when I was in therapy, my therapist wasn't receptive to anything; including my career aspirations. She was obsessed with money and didn't care at all about the higher qualities of life, such as I listed. She also seemed fixated on shoehorning me into the food industry which I had expressed zero interest in, and frankly (for complicated reasons) was a pretty inappropriate direction to try to push me towards.

@Adge It is totally disgusting that no action was taken when you had to make a police report for that incident - some places need to be held to account - grrr!

mr shaz don't currantly have a "team" -either @chibam

Question 3: Mental Health days are a growing conversation with a strong evidence base for improving wellbeing. For everyone following along:

Why is taking a mental health day important? And how can we reduce the stigma and assumptions around taking mental health days in the workplaces?

I still feel there is so much stigma with mentsl health in the workplace. @Daisydreamer @Ultravox

Mental Health days are a growing conversation with a strong evidence base for improving wellbeing.

Why is taking a mental health day important? And how can we reduce the stigma and assumptions around taking mental health days in the workplaces?

Taking time off for a “mental health day” is important in preserving a worker’s mental health and wellbeing. It provides an opportunity for a person to recharge and relax from the sometimes stressful and demanding environment that a workplace can sometimes present. If “mental health days” were used properly by workers then you would see less overall sick leave being taken and less stress and mental illness claims being made which would reduce Workcover claims and see less burn out of workers in the long term. Beyond Blue has provided research studies that show that millions of dollars are lost each year due to staff absenteeism because of poor mental health and stress leave.

People should be able take “mental health days” without having to explain why they are taking the sick day (normalise being able to take a day or two for mental health and wellbeing) so as to prolong their working life. People should be comfortable in taking the time off just like if they had a flu, migraine and not feel guilty for doing so. Sometimes it is in a person’s interest to take a “mental health day” rather than turning up to work and experiencing “presenteeism”, where they are present but not productive. An interesting statistic is that people with a disability or mental illness actually take on average less sick days than the rest of the population.

Organisations are now investing more money into the mental health and wellbeing of their workforces by upskilling Managers, Team Leaders and staff by providing mental health education training and workshops. Having open and transparent conversations about worker’s mental health and encouraging staff to take time off when there might be challenges or difficulties in a worker’s life helps to break down some of the stigma. Through management and team leaders developing mental health skills, knowledge and understanding in the workplace, will go a long way to be accepting workers experiencing ill mental health.

Our department is currently in the process of working on including mental health days as extra annual leave days @Daisydreamer - it is still in the beginning conversations but hopefully willbe introduced in the future.

No I have Not felt either Safe enough or Supported enough - In Any Workplace, to Disclose MH issues.

I've been in the Workforce for over 30 years.

I have Complex PTSD.

I have support Co-Workers (fellow-staff), on many occasions - When they Disclosed their MH issues or struggles to me.

I suggested Resources & Contacts - To help them to gain support.

Adge