Mental health: Safety basics

Mental health is everybody’s responsibility. On this page employers can find out how a mentally healthy workplace is good for business. Includes information on legal duties, causes of workplace mental injury and creating a mentally healthy workplace.

Background

Mental health is a state of wellbeing that allows people to realise their potential while coping with the ordinary challenges of life.

Good mental health supports people to thrive in their life, work and relationships with others. Meanwhile, mental ill-health can negatively impact these parts of our lives in a significant way.

A mentally healthy workplace

Work is a big part of our daily lives and can help to prevent mental ill-health by giving us a feeling of purpose and a sense of contribution.

A mentally healthy workplace has measures in place to prevent harm by identifying risks to mental health, managing harm from an early stage, and supporting recovery. At the same time, positive work-related factors are encouraged and promoted.

In a mentally healthy workplace:

• mental health is everyone's responsibility
• mental health is considered in every way you do business
• everyone contributes to a culture where people feel safe and supported to talk about mental health
• mental health support is tailored for individuals and teams
• everyone can see that supporting worker mental health is a priority