Mental health recovery at work
A supportive workplace can significantly improve recovery at work outcomes and help to prevent and manage psychological injury and mental ill health in NSW workplaces.
We have a range of programs and tools to help employers and employees better manage mental health in the workplace.
The Recovery at Work Toolkit
The Recovery at Work Toolkit is a collection of resources for NSW employers and employees to help support mentally healthy workplaces. The SIRA Recover at Work lived experience reference group have reviewed and co-designed this expanded Toolkit resource.
READY? disclosure tool
The READY? disclosure tool is an evidence-based website funded by SIRA and developed by the University of Sydney. READY? uses a combination of Motivational Interviewing, a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy technique, and real-life lived experience of workplace recovery, to help workers decide whether to disclose their mental health issue to someone at work.
Early evaluation findings show that READY? users experience reduced rates of psychological distress after using the tool, and those who decide to disclose about mental health in the workplace gain more psychological benefit than those who choose not to. Users found the tool helpful in assisting the decision-making process and felt the tool helped them when deciding to safely disclose.
SIRA Recover at Work reference group
People with lived experience of mental ill-health are key to driving better health outcomes by participating, influencing, and leading mental health initiatives.
A SIRA initiative, the Recover at Work reference group includes business leaders, recovery at work experts and people who identify as having lived experience of workplace mental health recovery. The group works closely with SIRA to co-design and implement workplace mental health initiatives, sharing personal expertise and seeking feedback from their networks.
Key achievements and current projects:
- Developed the Engaging with lived experience framework
- Review of Recovery at Work Toolkit, and co-design of expanded Toolkit
- Assisted in co-design of the READY disclosure tool
- Reviewed the Recovery Boost mental health grants program.
Recovery Boost - Mental health grants program
The Recovery Boost contestable grants program supports innovative solutions to improve recovery at work outcomes, and to prevent and manage psychological injury and mental ill health in the workplace.
Part of the NSW Government’s Mentally Healthy Workplaces Strategy, SIRA provided funding of up to $50,000 to 20 projects between 2020 and 2022 to support initiatives that help reduce stigma and encouraging early help seeking amongst workers experiencing mental distress or psychological injury.
Funding has benefited key NSW worker groups including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse employees, deaf and hard of hearing employees, frontline and healthcare workers, regional and rural workforces, young Australian workers, and mid-tier management across NSW.
The program is being independently evaluated, with outcomes and learnings to be published mid-2023.
Managing Minds - Mental Health literacy podcast series
Part of Recovery Boost Round 2, Managing Minds is a 6-part podcast series designed to help managers build mentally healthier workplaces.
To help increase awareness, improve mental health literacy, and decrease stigma in the workplace, the series explores issues such as preventing burnout, dealing with bullying, and how to manage an unhealthy workplace culture.
Mental health and psychological injury research projects
We have also funded the following research projects to support improved recovery at work outcomes, and to prevent and manage psychological injury and mental ill health in the workplace.
SIRA and Black Dog Institute Research Fellowship - Recovery after psychological injury
A two-year research fellowship with the Black Dog Institute to examine barriers to recovering from a psychological injury at work and to develop evidenced-based strategies that support successful return to work.
SIRA and Monash University - Work-connected interventions for psychological injuries
Psychological injury claims intervention mapping project.
SIRA and Australian National University - Using EAP to improve mental health at work
Investigation into Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) to maximise the effectiveness of EAP in meeting current workplace needs in the short term and reduce longer term negative impacts of mental distress in the NSW workforce.
SIRA and Monash University - Implementing work-related mental health guidelines in general practice (IMPRovE)
A national research and translation project to develop clinical GP guidelines for the diagnosis and management of work-related mental health conditions in general practice.
For more information on the above tools, programs and projects, email [email protected]