The unique pressures of the role mean that brokers frequently face a stressful environment - yet the issue remains hidden in many workplaces, with lots of staff unsure how to best broach the subject, whether they are experiencing an issue themselves or are concerned for a colleague.
To help address this issue, as part of the Dive In Festival events held in Sydney – and coming just two weeks after R U OK? Day – mental health was highlighted in an event hosted by JLT Australia.
John Brogden AM, chairman of Lifeline and former Leader of the Opposition, was one of the keynote speakers at the event. Well-known for his own public battles, Brogden discussed the ways that barriers have been broken down in wider society, paraphrasing his friend Barry O’Farrell to note that, in many ways, we are going through an “Enlightenment” when it comes to the issue.
However, he was quick to point out that stigma is often still present in the workplace when it comes to mental health.
“Mental health in the workplace is probably the last and most difficult frontier for mental health,” noted Brogden.
Greg Prescott, psychologist and NSW/ACT State Manager of Assure also presented on the day. Prescott noted that signs of potential mental health issues are often not recognised as such and instead countered with disciplinary action. In turn, this has often led to employees being unwilling to seek help, even when necessary.
Prescott outlined a variety of suggestions for spotting potential issues, including sudden changes in employee behaviour, performance, clothing or personal hygiene. With around 50% of the population experiencing a mental health-related issue within their lifetime, the problem is much more commonplace than many people realise.
“When you see other people struggling, when you feel yourself struggling, that’s normal,” said Prescott.
The cost of mental health issues was estimated to be $10.9 billion in 2015, with Brogden and Preston alike suggesting that taking a more active and caring approach to mental health was not only the right thing to do, but made good business sense.
Both men also noted that to help de-stigmatise the issue, mental health needed to be viewed in a similar fashion to physical health.
“It’s just another organ of our body experiencing illness,” stated Brogden.
If someone you know is in need of support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au/gethelp
