Rising Workers Compensation claims relating to mental health injury and increasing discussion around mental health as a workplace health and safety issue has led WorkSafe Victoria to set up a dedicated website to assist workplaces with planning and initiatives to reduce psychological injury.

Have a look at the WorkSafe Victoria WorkWell program here.

When thinking about the workplace mental health injury risks at your workplace, consider these psycho-social harm risk factors.

1. High or Low Work Demands
2. Lack of control over work activities
3. Low support from supervisors and co-workers
4. Low clarity of work role
5. Work relationship issues, for example lack of trust or honesty
6. Poorly managed change
7. Lack of civility, that being courteous and respectful behaviors
8. Inadequate reward or recognition
9. Poor organisational justice
10. Exposure to traumatic events or materials
11. Violence and aggression
12. Remote or isolated work
13. Bullying, gendered violence or sexual harassment

In order to reduce mental health injury in your workplace consider the following 10 tips to help your organisation manage mental health organisational risk factors

1. Think and talk about mental health (Mental Health Awareness Programs)
2. Risk assess the factors above in your workplace (surveys, interviews and focus groups)
3. Act on mental health issues when they arise (provide assistance)
4. Promote a supportive and caring culture, encourage staff to look out for each other
5. Foster new ideas from staff on how you can improve
6. Encourage workers to ask for help
7. Have a zero tolerance for bullying behaviours and promote that fact
8. Have a well documented and fair behaviours and complaints procedure
9. Be creative with health programs and encourage work-life balance
10. Use the WorkWell program to develop an action plan