The Institute of Public Administration Australia SA (IPAA) is celebrating the expansion of this year’s Mental Health Month from one week to the whole month of October with a series of live and online events.
Announcing the change, IPAA said Mental Health Month provided an opportunity for people to have a conversation with friends, family, colleagues and community about mental health.
“Speak up and remember we can all make a difference!” the institute said.
“Get involved by attending one of the Mental Health Month events, organise a staff event, or just start a conversation with someone.”
IPAA said upcoming events included: Mindshare Exhibition (until 31 October); Poetry Prescribed (21 October); Lived Experience Lunch ‘N’ Learns (every Wednesday in October); The Thought That Counts (until 31 October); and Magic with a Message (24 October).
It said that with approximately 50% of Australians being diagnosed with mental illness in their lifetimes, 50% were likely to know someone living with or had experienced mental illness, making it something that affected everyone.
“In the workplace, 91% of employees believe mental health in the workplace is important, however, only 52% of employees believe their workplace is mentally healthy,” it said.
“Now, if the workplace was to invest in strategies to improve their employee wellbeing, they would improve productivity, increase attendance and reduce health compensation claims.”
IPAA said a report by PwC Australia showed that an investment of $1 in workplace mental health strategies would gain an average return on investment of $2.30.
“Without effective workplace strategies to improve wellbeing, there could be a significant cost to your business/department and to your team (remember mental illness effects everyone),” it said.
The full program for Mental Health Month can be accessed at this PS News link.
