The NSW Government are investing in initiatives to improve mental health in the workplace.
According to a NSW Government media release, the Mentally Healthy Workplaces in NSW Strategy is a long-term plan for mentally healthy workplaces. The $55 million funding for the Strategy is coming out of the NSW 2018-19 Budget.
The Strategy resulted from consultation with people who have had experiences with mental illness, as well as workers, academics, advocates, and industry and worker representatives. The Strategy will span four years and will include manager training, recovery at work programs, research projects, media campaigns, online resources, and assessment and mentoring tools to provide support to businesses.
Minister for Better Regulation, Matt Kean, emphasised the importance and significance of the Strategy in the media release.
“This strategy represents the single-biggest investment in workplace mental health in the country’s history.
“At any given time, more than half a million NSW workers experience mental-ill health, which is just a staggering statistic. With one third of adult life spent at work, the workplace can play a big role in promoting mental health, and reducing the impact and severity of mental-ill health.”
The NSW Government media release also stated that if businesses want to get involved in the Strategy, they will be partnered with SafeWork NSW to access tools and resources to make their workplaces mentally healthy.
The NSW Mentally Healthy Workplaces Strategy 2018-22 can be read in full here.
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