Managing mental health

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Managing mental health in the workplace

With the right support, people with mental health challenges can, and do, perform well in the workplace. They can continue to be highly effective employees and a long-term asset for your business.

If an employee is experiencing mental health issues that are impacting on their work, it’s best to be as supportive as possible. This will help them recover more quickly – and that’s better for everyone.

Recognise, Relate, Respond

We recommend using the three-step process Recognise, Relate and Respond, to help navigate the management of mental health issues at work. You can use the links below to access more detailed information for each step (each link opens a new article).

Recognise – Mental health issues at work

Identify when an employee is experiencing mental health issues at work and take steps to help. Early intervention can restore an employee’s confidence, strengthening their mental health and making them happier and more productive.

Relate – How can I approach an employee about their mental illness?

When you see behaviour that suggests an employee has a mental health issue, the best approach in most cases is to meet with the person privately and talk. Use these suggestions to prepare for the meeting, take a supportive approach and follow up afterwards.

Respond – How do I manage an on-going illness of a staff member?

Key strategies and adjustments in the workplace can help employees with ongoing mental health distress to continue working and contributing to your organisation.