Mentally Healthy workplaces are good places to work and that’s good for business.

Businesses have been putting considerable effort into managing work health and safety and the physical health of their people.

The impact of employees’ mental health conditions on productivity, participation and compensation claims has been estimated by PwC (2014) to cost Australian businesses at least $10.9 billion a year.

It is in the interests of businesses and their profitability to look at resources available to tackle these conditions in the workplace.

Further research undertaken for the Heads Up initiative, shows that attention by a business to the mental health of its people, even small steps, can reap dividends not just through higher productivity but with higher staff retention and higher quality recruitment.

Kate Carnell, CEO at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said: “We’ve done a lot of good work in Australia over the last twenty years on occupational health and safety, but the focus has primarily been on the physical safety of workers, not as much on their mental health.

“Attention to Mental Health is an opportunity for businesses seeking a competitive edge, and the coming Heads Up website shows them just how they can make the most of the opportunity”.

ACCI, through its involvement with the Mentally Healthy Workplace Alliance, has contributed to development of the Heads Up website and developing recourses to make it easier for business to make workplaces mentally healthy.
Businesses can register on the Heads Up website to select the resources best suited to their needs.