The Movember Foundation has one goal: to stop men dying too young. Tackling men’s health issues year-round, the foundation supports prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.
As well as raising much needed funds, #Movember contributes a great deal to the awareness of men’s health issues and in particular, encourages men to have conversations around mental health.
The Australian Human Rights Commission reports on the prevalence of mental health issues amongst employees stating “Preliminary research shows Australian businesses lose over $6.5 billion each year by failing to provide early intervention/treatment for employees with mental health conditions”.
PeopleSense by Altius Director, Registered Psychologist, Darrin Brandis says “We are seeing workplaces across Australia taking an increasing responsibility for the mental health of their employees. We are also seeing data on workplace mental health programs that shows the measurable impact they can have on employee mental health and wellbeing”.
Research has shown there are specific factors associated with an increased level of risk for work-related stress. These factors can lead to mental health problems and psychological injuries. To assess psychological safety and risk in the workplace, our PeopleSense by Altius psychologists gather data by:
- Reviewing historical workplace data (such as workers compensation claims)
- Reviewing organisational policies and procedures
- Administering a survey of staff
- Facilitating focus groups
- Meeting with key stakeholders
These assessments provide an overview of the current state of wellbeing within an organisation, which is assessed against industry regulation and safety guidelines. Psychological risk factors assessed include Autonomy and Control, Job Demands, Support, Role Conflict/Ambiguity, Relationships, Change, Rewards and Recognition and Organisational Justice.
When organisations prioritise employee mental health and gain an understanding of what is impacting their employee’s mental wellbeing, they are able to take steps to make measurable impacts to both the individual and the organisation.
