Comments on: Suicide Prevention Forum and Mental Health First Aid for workers

By: Workplace suicide reflection « SafetyAtWorkBlog

Workplace suicide reflection « SafetyAtWorkBlog — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 22:06:35 +0000

[…] Journal of Psychiatry (subscription only) has provided a slightly different perspective on the Australia suicide statistics released earlier this year, and some of the reporting on the statistics. This is an important perspective when considering […]

By: Steve S

Steve S — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 04:07:32 +0000

Kevin, you make a very important point that ‘first aid’ can be seen as an after the event process. The real value is in doing this work before the event, as a preventative strategy. Unfortunately as is quite often the way with safety generally, it can hard work making the case to do something before there is a problem.

And yes, the work environment is usually a direct expression of the organisational culture.

By: Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 02:46:59 +0000

In reply to richardfez.

Richard, I had someone the other day run me through the branding/terminology changes that have occurred since the controversial days of WorkCare. The confusion extends back at least 30 years.

It wouldn’t matter so much if each arm had a similar level of community visibility. But then, does it really matter at all to anyone other than the WorkSafe Victoria personnel and strategists? Perhaps there are lessons for the other States who rebranded to WorkSafe. (I reckon WorkSafeNZ won’t have this problem due to the high profile of the ACC that looks after the workers compensation in that country)

By: richardfez

richardfez — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 02:42:46 +0000

Workcover claim, worksafe claim, – guidance from the regulator includes both terminology so yep there is general confusion

By: Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 00:35:15 +0000

In reply to Dr Sue Bahn.

Sue, the focus on the individual supports the very marketable concepts of individual resilience but also fits with the empowerment of the individual, which we should support as it addresses the issue of control.

The emphasis on the individual has outweighed the occupational context and that is why the new MHFA guideline’s inclusion of work-created mental health issues is so important.

I would have liked more of a mention in the body of the guidance but it is a good start and a substantial improvement over various suicide prevention strategies that make no mention of work stressors.

By: Dr Sue Bahn

Dr Sue Bahn — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 00:11:52 +0000

Thanks Kevin for this article and your comments relating to positive “work environment” that looks a lot like positive “safety culture”. I very much agree with your argument that viewing mental health practices in the workplace from an OHS or holistic work environment approach is the key to change. This focus on the individual is problematic and comes with it expectations that the person at risk can be a master of their own destiny when too often the culture is one of non disclosure, bullying and negative practice.