Building mental health literacy at work

Mental health literacy

Mental health literacy starts with leaders, managers and workers having accurate information and knowledge about mental health, mental ill-health and where to get additional support if required. 

Building mental health literacy includes building knowledge and skills to:

• understand mental health, including some of the key things that may contribute to mental health or mental ill-health
• identify the signs of potential mental ill-health or distress that may signal someone may need additional support
• have a conversation to support someone experiencing mental ill-health to provide immediate support and help them connect with care if needed
• help people connect to appropriate treatment services, from emergency or crisis care through to helplines, GPs or community supports
• look after personal mental health, including building self-care routines and support networks.

Mentally healthy workplace literacy

Beyond being able to identify and support someone who is experiencing mental ill-health, your organisation can help to create workplace environments that protect and promote mental health. 

Creating mentally healthy workplaces hinges on ongoing commitment and action across 3 pillars—Protect, Respond and Promote, as outlined in the Blueprint for Mentally Healthy Workplaces. 

Organisations and businesses have legal obligations related to the Protect and Respond pillars, making them a good place to start. Once your approach is underway, there are benefits to extending your focus beyond compliance and minimum requirements to explore the opportunities a mentally healthy workplace provides.

Building mentally healthy workplace literacy in your organisation could start with something as simple as using appropriate language to discuss mental health, mental health challenges and mental illness. 

Understanding stigma

Stigma is an inaccurate, harmful opinion or judgement held by individuals or a society about other individuals or groups of people. It can include stereotypes, false assumptions or negative attitudes. It can lead to people who experience mental ill-health feeling a sense of shame, fear of disapproval, judgement, discrimination or exclusion. It can also stop people from asking for help and getting the treatment and support they need. 

The key elements to addressing stigma include:

• Knowledge – We need the correct information to understand mental health issues.
• Attitudes – Incorrect knowledge of mental health issues creates misinformed and unhelpful attitudes.
• Behaviours – Misinformed attitudes cause inappropriate and often discriminatory behaviour.

Use appropriate language 

The words we use to discuss mental health can reinforce stereotypes, myths and stigma. The words you use to discuss mental health must be respectful and accepting. Messages should be clear, positive and show that you see people as individuals. 

Offer mental health training 

Training people to recognise mental ill-health and provide appropriate support can help people feel more confident and capable to provide support. Training people managers can be particularly effective. Training should cover: 

• signs and symptoms of common mental health conditions
• strategies to support colleagues with mental health issues.

Given our understanding of mental health continues to deepen, and approaches to supporting people experience mental health challenges evolve, it is important that training occurs regularly—rather than as a ‘one-off’ event.