WHY DO WE NEED A MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE BOX?

 

A 2018 survey by Medibio of 3500 employees from 41 organisations across Australia, revealed a third of employees were suffering from some form of mental health issue ” 36% from depression, 33% from anxiety and 31% from stress. Mental Health in the workplace is common and statistically higher than the national average.

 

To make change, education is key in overcoming stereotyping, stigma and misunderstanding. The Mental Health Response Toolbox is the educator to facilitate change providing practical and useful guidance in simple, easy to read language.

 

One of the questions often asked is, "but why do we need a mental health response toolbox when we have an Employee Assistance Program? "

 

Research shows that many employees are not aware that an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) exists or if they are, many are still reluctant to access the program no matter how reassured they are about privacy.  The beauty about the Medical Health Response Box is the pocket we have at the front of each folder. Your EAP flyers sit at the front of each information booklet.  This gives people the ability to take a flyer privately and also endorses the importance of getting help as suggested in the Mental Health Response Toolkit.

 

In our experience workers do not always want to approach their Manager for fear of stigma. The toolbox can help those individuals source the information that they need to get help. It can also help co-workers have a conversation when they see that their colleague is not coping.

 

The value of the Mental Health Response Box is to bridge the gap and help identify early signals before crisis, address what to do in Crisis and assist workers returning to work after mental health illness. The toolbox provides guidance on how to broach a conversation with a colleague, how to understand behaviour and when help is required.