The team at EASA wish you a Positive and Prosperous New Year!!

Transcription

1 January 2014 DARWIN HEAD OFFICE P. (08) F. (08) E. The team at EASA wish you a Positive and Prosperous New Year!! ALICE SPRINGS P. (08) F. (08) E. easaalicesprings@easa.org.au KATHERINE P. (08) F. (08) E. easadarwin@easa.org.au PALMERSTON TENNANT CREEK NHULUNBUY JABIRU P. (08) F. (08) E. easadarwin@easa.org.au In this issue: Toll Free (NT ONLY) Creating Mentally Healthy Workplaces 5 Top Tips for a Healthy Work Environment Dealing with Dysfunctional People in the Workplace Conflict Resolutions for the New Year Public Workshop Calendar Big Question: Are New Year s Resolutions a Good Idea?

2 CREATING MENTALLY HEALTHY WORKPLACES It's important for workplaces to have mental health policy in place and also to have leadership - to make it clear to employees that they will treat mental health the same way they treat physical health issues. - Beyond Blue Chief Executive Kate Carnell A landmark Alliance between business, the mental health sector and government commenced at the end of 2013, to help create Australian workplaces that are mentally healthy. Mental illness costs the Australian economy over $20 billion a year and recent research by SANE Australia highlighted that the majority of people feel unsupported when mentally unwell, and less than half of managers (43%) have an understanding of mental illness. The Mentally Healthy Workplace Alliance is a collaborative partnership aimed at changing business culture and practices by providing the business sector with practical guidance about mental health. The Alliance is also developing an evidence-based business case for promoting mentally healthy workplaces. Prof. Allan Fels, Chair of the National Mental Health Commission, which has set up the Alliance, is calling on all Australian workplaces to take steps to create mentally healthy workplaces, and fully realise the benefits to individuals, businesses and the community. With almost half of Australians likely to experience a mental illness in their lifetime, the importance of having mentally healthy workplaces cannot be overstated. Businesses that invest in mental health are also more productive, innovative and likely to recruit and retain the best and brightest people, Prof. Fels explains. SANE Australia congratulates the National Mental Health Commission for its leadership role in bringing the Alliance together. Here we have the business community working hand in hand with the mental health sector and that s essential if we are going to shift the dial on mental health in the workplace, explains SANE Australia s CEO, Jack Heath. Australians with mental illness have one of the lowest workforce participation rates in the OECD and the Alliance has a critical role to play in turning this around, says Mr Heath. SANE Australia has developed a training solution that provides managers with the skills and confidence to respond effectively to signs of mental health problems at work. Mindful Employer helps managers to create a more positive and supportive workplace, and avoid the costs of not responding to mental health problems in a timely and appropriate manner. The program, which offers both online and face-to-face support, focuses on mental

3 illness awareness training and the skills to work with, and support, an employee who has an existing or emerging mental health issue or is caring for someone who does. Business leaders care about the people they employ but if their managers don t know how to respond to mental health issues, the end result can be costly for everyone in both human and dollar terms. Mindful Employer helps reduce costs, improve productivity and create a positive working environment all critical to long term business success, explains Mr Heath. Business Council of Australia, Comcare, the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia, the Mental Health Council of Australia, Safe Work Australia, SANE Australia and the University of New South Wales. For further information on the Mentally Healthy Workplace Alliance visit: For further information on Mindful Employer visit Founding members of the Alliance include the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Australian Psychological Society, beyondblue, the Black Dog Institute, the 5 Top Tips for a Healthy Work Environment A healthy workplace allows you to achieve and exceed performance objectives in a safe environment and encourages well-being and good work life balance. You can encourage a healthy work environment by implementing the following initiatives: Take Regular Breaks It can be hard to take breaks when you re really busy, however taking regular breaks is one of the most important things you can do to keep focussed and productive. Working smart by taking regular breaks will help you to leave the office on time, thereby improving your work life balance. Know Your Limits If you re feeling overwhelmed by your workload it s important that you let your manager know, in case they re able to help relieve the pressure. Taking on additional responsibilities can be a great way of adding variety to your work but knowing when to say no is an important way to reduce stress or anxiety. Adhere to Health and Safety Policies Make sure you re aware of the health and safety policies of your office and any resources that may be available, so that you know what to do should an incident arise. If You re Sick, Take Sick Leave While it may seem honourable to stay at work when not feeling well, in reality staying at work when you re sick is selfish. You risk spreading your germs to your colleagues and extending your recovery time by not taking adequate rest. Develop Good Posture Good posture helps you to stay focussed on the task at hand and can reduce the incidence of workplace injury. You will also look more professional and will be less likely to experience fatigue.

4 P A G E 4 Dealing with Dysfunctional People in the Workplace People with personality disorders commonly demonstrate the following issues poor interpersonal relationships, problems maintaining boundaries, lack of empathy, ego-syntonic traits, rigid or irrational belief patterns, long-term inflexibility and low emotional intelligence. Understand and learn how to deal with dysfunctional people more effectively. Workshop content: What is personality? Factors that cause dysfunction Types of personality Avoidant, Borderline, Anti-social, Narcissistic, Obsessive, Passive-Aggressive and Dependent Coping strategies Assertive communication/scripts Emotional blackmail/setting strict boundaries Risk Management Stress Management Learning outcomes: At the end of the workshop, you will be able to: Understand the effects of dysfunctional behaviours in the workplace Understand different types of dysfunctional personalities Learn techniques and strategies to help you deal with and cope with dysfunctional people in your workplace whether they are co-workers, customers or clients Where to get help Conflict Resolutions for the New Year This year, I will acknowledge how conflict presents an opportunity to enrich relationships. This year, I will make amends with people and not let our differences of opinion fester. This year, I will apologise and mean it. This year, I will stop blaming others. This year, I will take responsibility for how I contributed to disputes. This year, I will forgive and let bygones be bygones. This year, I will not be hard on others, or on myself. This year, I will not judge people. This year, I will value the importance of respecting other people s opinions, even if I don t agree with them. This year, I will listen. T A K E I T E A S Y

5 P A G E 5 PUBLIC WORKSHOP CALENDAR All workshops are held in both Darwin & Alice Springs Offices February Public Workshops Darwin & Alice Springs EASA Tuesday 4th February Resilience and the Art of Bouncing Back Wednesday 12th February Time Mastery Thursday 20th February Dealing with Dysfunctional People in the Workplace Tuesday 25th February Giving Customers a Serve: The Key to Customer Service FEBRUARY 2014 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Are you looking for a workshop that is not on our calendar? Please your workshop suggestions or ideas to Jade, as we may be able to design a workshop that suits your needs. Jade Hamilton Training & Mediation Consultant Phone jhamilton@easa.org.au EASA also offers the ease of enrolling online through the easy to use EASA website. Go to Click on Training Calendar. Find the workshop you are interested in and click enrol now to download the enrolment form.

6 T A K E I T E A S Y P A G E 6 Big Question: Are New Year's Resolutions a Good Idea? Marquette Magazine posed this question to Dr. Ed de St. Aubin, an associate professor of psychology at Marquette who has researched meaning-making, among other areas. Here is his response. Yes, of course, it's a great idea to make new year's resolutions. It is also a really bad idea. Bad because so many of our resolutions are not maintained and this may lead to various forms of selfloathing for some people. But new year's resolutions are essentially goals and these can also increase a person's well-being because they force us to consider what we value most and they help to structure our time. There is a large area of scholarship known as "Goal Psychology" that examines the dynamics linking personality, behavior and one's objectives (goals). Recent research in this area by Professor Robert Emmons focuses on personal strivings various goals a person is trying to achieve in daily life. He has found that those with predominantly power oriented personal strivings, such as "advance my career," "make more money" or "control my family members," have relatively lower levels of life well being. He also discovered that folks with high levels of subjective well being, those who perceive themselves as experiencing lots of positive emotions, list personal strivings centering on the sacred: "try to spend more time in prayer," "remember to be grateful for all that God has given me" and "acknowledge the beauty and mystery in my relationships with others." Studies conducted by myself, Dan McAdams, and others have shown that psychosocially healthy adults those with a solid balance of self worth who felt meaning in life, social integration and loved by others have personal strivings stemming from generativity. This is a desire to nurture younger people and to create a world that benefits future generations. Such adults list goals such as "spend more time with my children," "reduce the racism in my community" or "nurture junior colleagues." Folks with these generative goals tend to be quite happy and to see themselves as living meaningful lives. So, when it comes to making new year's resolutions, think a bit about what kinds of goals you are pursuing. Many may seem superficial (lose some weight) or pedestrian (manage debt better). That's fine. Go ahead and work on these goals. But allow yourself to think big as well. What do you value in life? What provides you with meaning? What kind of world do you want to live in? My suggestion is that we use the new year's resolution ritual as a time of both reflection "what worked well in my life this past year?" and of values clarification. Our resolutions should be congruent with what we most value with those experiences that give our lives meaning.