Information About the Program

Prevalence

According to Black Dog institute, in any one year 20% of Australians will experience some form (or multiple forms) of mental illness and 45% of us will experience a mental illness at some point in our lifetime.  Mental health conditions are most common in amongst those aged 15-24 (National Health Survey 2017-18). About three-quarters of common mental health problems emerge before the age of 25 years old and suicide is the leading cause of death for people aged 5-17 years old (Black Dog Institute, 2020). 

Most common types of mental illness

The most common forms of mental illness in Australia are Anxiety (14.4% of the population), illnesses such as depression (6.2% of the population) and substance use disorders (5.1% of the population) (Mindframe, 2014).

It is important to remember that not all mental illness is the same. Different forms of mental illness have different impacts on people’s lives, much like various different physical ailments. Each mental illness has a specific range of symptoms. People don’t need to experience/exhibit all of them however to still meet the criteria of a particular mental illness. It is important to consult a professional if you notice your behaviours, thoughts or emotions significantly change from their normal patterns. 

Poor mental health warning signs

Although every mental illness is different there are some general early warning signs which may indicate the presence of a mental illness or that your mental health is at risk.

Early warning signs (notice in yourself or others):

• Constant headache, restlessness or racing mind

• Lose of interest in something you once enjoyed. Feeling sad or irritable. Lacking motivation and energy

• Sudden and dramatic mood swings

• Changes to usual healthy sleep patterns. Either struggling to sleep (insomnia) or struggling to get out of bed (sleeping to much)

• Rapid and fluctuating weight change, without concerted effort to change weight

• Regular withdrawal from social events, refusing to attend social outings. Withdrawing from family and friends

• Substance abuse

• Feelings of worthlessness and guilt (e.g. “its all my fault”,  “I’m a failure”).

• Significant changes in behaviour or feelings without the occurrence of a significant life event or life change

(Healthdirect, 2018) 

Mental illness is not a life sentence

Getting on top of a mental illness early can drastically reduce the time in which it may impact your mental health and well-being. Even lifelong illnesses such as Schizophrenia and Bi-polar can be effectively managed so as to have little to no impact on your life or well-being.

Some people may experience mental illness in a unique solitary occasion or stint of time, for others they may experience re occurrences or returns of a mental illness throughout their lives. Again proper management and life adjustments (e.g. good stress management and monitoring alcohol intake) can prevent reoccurring mental illness from impacting your overall mental health and well-being (Mindframe, 2014).

Mental health in the workplace

On average, people with mental ill-health are estimated to be absent from for an additional 10-12 days and reduced the amount of work they did on 14 to 18 days a year due to psychological distress (Productivity Commission, 2020). Depression and Anxiety are the leading causes of long-term sickness absences from work (Black Dog, 2014). Participation, absenteeism and presenteeism related to mental illness costs Australian workplaces approx. $39 billion dollars a year (Productivity Commission, 2020).  Approx. $543 million is paid in workers' compensation for work-related mental health conditions (Safe work Australia, 2020).

81% of workplace leaders indicate that their workplace has one or more supports/procedures for employees experiencing a mental illness or designed to help employee mental health, however 35% of employees reported not knowing these resources existed or how to access them (Headsup, 2014). It is manager’s responsibility to make their workplace one which supports the mental health of its employees. Workplaces where there is the opinion by staff that senior management care about and value the mental health of the employees experience half the amount of absenteeism/presenteeism in relation to mental illness (Headsup, 2014).

To access the service:

Call: 1800 730 931

Website: workplaceoptions.com/au

Mental health and quality of life (including violent behaviour)

Mental illness and poor mental health can impact an individual’s quality of life. Just like physical health, adopting healthy lifestyle habits can dramatically increase your mental health even if you are living with a lifelong mental illness (Sane, 2015).

These healthy habits include

• Physical exercise/activity

• Balanced sleeping and eating habits

• Avoiding excessive drug use

• Managing stress/workload

• Engaging with family, friends and other support networks

• Staying engaged with professional mental health experts to help you manage your mental health/mental illness

There is a common misconception that individuals experiencing mental illness are violent and unpredictable individuals. Although some mental illnesses can lead to acting erratically, the statistics of violent acts are very minor indeed.  The reality is that individuals experiencing a mental illness are far more likely to harm themselves or be the victims of violence compared to perpetrating violence against others.

The lifetime risk of someone with schizophrenia seriously hurting or killing someone is 0.005%, however there is a 10% chance they may hurt themselves (Mindframe, 2014).

Proper treatment and management significantly reduces the chances of mental illness leading someone to act violently against others. The truth is that there is a far greater connection between alcohol and violence and males aged 15-25 and violence then there is between mental illness and violence (Mindframe, 2014).

Supporting someone with mental illness

Ultimately, trained professionals are going to be the best support for individuals experiencing an acute mental illness episode. There is however important ways in which you can support someone you know who is (or you expect is) suffering from a mental illness.

Tips

1) Don’t try and diagnose, assess or treat the individual, leave this to trained professionals. By all means support the individual, but diagnosis and treatment needs to be done by people with specific knowledge and expertise.

To be supportive:

• Give the person opportunities to talk, make sure you choose a suitable time and space to talk (e.g. comfortable space, and both sober).

• Let the person know you are concerned about them

• Treat the person with respect

• Be as consistent in your emotions and understanding as possible. If you feel vulnerable yourself, best to give the individual some space. Any erratic or unstable behaviour from yourself will likely be more hindrance then benefit

• Be a good listener

• Don’t tell the person to snap out of it, or get over it.

• Sarcasm is likely to not be received as intended so best to not try it.

• Don’t try and come up with answers to their problems.

2) Encourage the person to see a professional

• Discuss the options they have for seeking help and encourage them to use those options

• Gain knowledge of services available in their local area and online

• If they are unwilling to see a mental health professional at this stage, a good place to start is their GP.

• If the person is very reluctant to seek assistance, discuss this openly with them. Their beliefs may be based on misconceptions or lack of knowledge on mental health assistance (e.g. seeking help for mental illness generally does not involve straightjackets, being locked in a padded room, or electrotherapy).

(Mental Health First Aid Australia, 2016)

Support Services

No matter the time of day there is always services available to help you through.

Call: 1800 730 931. 24 hours, 7 days a week.  

Website: workplaceoptions.com/au

Remember that the support service is there for you. We offer face-to-face, telephone, and video counselling to help individuals overcome mental illness and regain their mental health. We endeavour to help you strengthen your mental health and acquire the skills and resilience so that no matter what life throws your way you are able to overcome the challenges and live life to the fullest.

Phone

24/7 Access: 1800 730 931

Email

workplaceoptions.com/au

The Employee Assistance Program provides access to support for individuals struggling with challenges in their lives, or not feeling themselves. Yes - it is counselling. However, at WPO we ensure we reduce the "clinical feel" associated with counselling. We create a scene that empowers you to overcome the challenges you are facing and recapture your well-being. There are also manager assist, personal coaching, and other life resources available as part of the service. 

When are Services Available?

You can book sessions from 8:00am in the morning until 6:00pm at night (finishing at 6:00pm). A  member of our team will ask some questions to establish an appropriate time and date for your appointment. We will then identify which of our experienced professionals will be best fit for you to work with.

How do we Deliver Support?

We utilise a range of psychological strategies and delivery methods depending on what brings you to access support, the level of distress you are experiencing and other important factors. We utilise a Stepped Care approach of support, so that the most effective yet least resource intensive treatment is delivered first; only ‘stepping up’ to intensive/specialist services as required. To get the most out of the service, we strongly encourage you to access support when challenges first appear. The earlier you present, the more time we have to work through your current experiences and provide you with the tools to overcome future challenges without needing our support.

Cost and Confidentiality

All support services are provided at no cost to the employee accessing  and are completely confidential. You do not need to ask permission to access the service or tell anyone else (unless you want to) that you are accessing the services.

Further Questions

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact WPO on the phone number above or via email. There is no such thing as a dumb question, and we are happy to help in any way we can.

Confidential   -   Free   -   Accessible 

The Employee Assistance Program is in place to support the mental health, well-being and personal growth/resilience of all employees. Whether you're not feeling yourself, struggling with challenges in your life, or looking to enhance your capabilities and performance, the service has support and resources for you. 

For When you're not Feeling Yourself, or Need Some Help Overcoming Challenges 

Life can throw up big and small challenges which take a toll on our well-being. Sometimes we can feel like we aren't ourselves or that we are in a "rut" or "bogged down" in stress or worry.

The WPO Employee Assistance Program provides professional support to help work through challenges you are facing, to recapture your well-being and/or get out of that "rut". Common issues the service helps people with include: 

Personal Issues:

• Feeling down (Depression)

• Dealing with stress

• Worry (anxiousness)

• Coping with change

• Trauma or grief

• Substance use (inc. smoking)

• Anger issues

• Body image

• Sexuality and gender

Relationship Issues

• Communication issues

• Resolving conflict

• Relationship breakdown

• Parenting and child issues

Work Issues

• Coping with work pressure

• Preparing for greater responsibility and leadership

• Managing work-life balance

• Conflict in the workplace

• Workplace stress

• Career Path

• Career Transition

• Supporting others who may be struggling

Strategies

WPO utilises psychologists and counsellors to provide support, with a caring approach aimed at empowering you with the skills and knowledge to work through the challenges you are facing. We utilise an innovative and proven model of support which is designed to help you start feeling like yourself again as quickly as possible. Our organisation also uses a Stepped Care approach to ensure impactful support is provided. Stepped Care is a system of delivering and monitoring support, so that the most effective yet least resource intensive methods is delivered to patients first; only ‘stepping up’ to intensive/specialist services as clinically required. 

At WPO we utilise a combination of weekly counselling sessions and an e-portal where you will have access to specifically selected activities allowing practice and further learning opportunities between sessions. This combination has been shown to increase the rate of improvement in well-being for individuals presenting to service compared to counselling alone. It allows for maximum impact and benefit in the short-term approach of service.

When can you access support?

Appointments can be made between 8:00am - 6:00pm, Monday to Friday.

The phone lines are available 24/7. 

How to access Professional Support

Contacting WPO

For further information or to make an appointment please contact WPO on: 

Phone: 1800 730 931

Email: workplaceoptions.com/au

For when you want to empower your performance and mental health - Psychology Toolbelt Resources

The best defence is a good offence. Rather than waiting for issues to present or current challenges to take their toll, you can utilise the service to help grow your resilience, upskill your emotional intelligence or change certain behaviours (e.g. quit smoking). The Psychology Toolbelt resources can help you build on your current performance at work or enhance capabilities in the roles you play in your personal life. This includes preparing for greater responsibility at work and leadership positions. 

Will the resources prevent you from ever struggling or experiencing issues? No, but think of this like a gym for your mental health and performance. These resources will help you engage in positive behaviours, understand your thoughts better, and mindfully react to your emotions in positive ways, to help you to perform at your best and increase your resilience in the workplace and at home. The same way that going to the gym doesn't prevent every illness, but helps you to be fitter, stronger and happier and able to better enjoy life!

Find Personal Resources HERE

Find Professional Resources HERE

Prevalence

According to Black Dog institute, in any one year 20% of Australians will experience some form (or multiple forms) of mental illness and 45% of us will experience a mental illness at some point in our lifetime.  Mental health conditions are most common in amongst those aged 15-24 (National Health Survey 2017-18). About three-quarters of common mental health problems emerge before the age of 25 years old and suicide is the leading cause of death for people aged 5-17 years old (Black Dog Institute, 2020). 

Most common types of mental illness

The most common forms of mental illness in Australia are Anxiety (14.4% of the population), illnesses such as depression (6.2% of the population) and substance use disorders (5.1% of the population) (Mindframe, 2014).

It is important to remember that not all mental illness is the same. Different forms of mental illness have different impacts on people’s lives, much like various different physical ailments. Each mental illness has a specific range of symptoms. People don’t need to experience/exhibit all of them however to still meet the criteria of a particular mental illness. It is important to consult a professional if you notice your behaviours, thoughts or emotions significantly change from their normal patterns. 

Poor mental health warning signs

Although every mental illness is different there are some general early warning signs which may indicate the presence of a mental illness or that your mental health is at risk.

Early warning signs (notice in yourself or others):

• Constant headache, restlessness or racing mind

• Lose of interest in something you once enjoyed. Feeling sad or irritable. Lacking motivation and energy

• Sudden and dramatic mood swings

• Changes to usual healthy sleep patterns. Either struggling to sleep (insomnia) or struggling to get out of bed (sleeping to much)

• Rapid and fluctuating weight change, without concerted effort to change weight

• Regular withdrawal from social events, refusing to attend social outings. Withdrawing from family and friends

• Substance abuse

• Feelings of worthlessness and guilt (e.g. “its all my fault”,  “I’m a failure”).

• Significant changes in behaviour or feelings without the occurrence of a significant life event or life change

(Healthdirect, 2018) 

Mental illness is not a life sentence

Getting on top of a mental illness early can drastically reduce the time in which it may impact your mental health and well-being. Even lifelong illnesses such as Schizophrenia and Bi-polar can be effectively managed so as to have little to no impact on your life or well-being.

Some people may experience mental illness in a unique solitary occasion or stint of time, for others they may experience re occurrences or returns of a mental illness throughout their lives. Again proper management and life adjustments (e.g. good stress management and monitoring alcohol intake) can prevent reoccurring mental illness from impacting your overall mental health and well-being (Mindframe, 2014).

Mental health in the workplace

On average, people with mental ill-health are estimated to be absent from for an additional 10-12 days and reduced the amount of work they did on 14 to 18 days a year due to psychological distress (Productivity Commission, 2020). Depression and Anxiety are the leading causes of long-term sickness absences from work (Black Dog, 2014). Participation, absenteeism and presenteeism related to mental illness costs Australian workplaces approx. $39 billion dollars a year (Productivity Commission, 2020).  Approx. $543 million is paid in workers' compensation for work-related mental health conditions (Safe work Australia, 2020).

81% of workplace leaders indicate that their workplace has one or more supports/procedures for employees experiencing a mental illness or designed to help employee mental health, however 35% of employees reported not knowing these resources existed or how to access them (Headsup, 2014). It is manager’s responsibility to make their workplace one which supports the mental health of its employees. Workplaces where there is the opinion by staff that senior management care about and value the mental health of the employees experience half the amount of absenteeism/presenteeism in relation to mental illness (Headsup, 2014).

To access the service:

Phone

Australia: (+61) 1800 730 931 USA: 1 (888) 895-2815 Singapore: (+65) 800 852 3955

Germany: (+49) 0800 1801352 UAE: (+971)  800 0320509

Mental health and quality of life (including violent behaviour)

Mental illness and poor mental health can impact an individual’s quality of life. Just like physical health, adopting healthy lifestyle habits can dramatically increase your mental health even if you are living with a lifelong mental illness (Sane, 2015).

These healthy habits include

• Physical exercise/activity

• Balanced sleeping and eating habits

• Avoiding excessive drug use

• Managing stress/workload

• Engaging with family, friends and other support networks

• Staying engaged with professional mental health experts to help you manage your mental health/mental illness

There is a common misconception that individuals experiencing mental illness are violent and unpredictable individuals. Although some mental illnesses can lead to acting erratically, the statistics of violent acts are very minor indeed.  The reality is that individuals experiencing a mental illness are far more likely to harm themselves or be the victims of violence compared to perpetrating violence against others.

The lifetime risk of someone with schizophrenia seriously hurting or killing someone is 0.005%, however there is a 10% chance they may hurt themselves (Mindframe, 2014).

Proper treatment and management significantly reduces the chances of mental illness leading someone to act violently against others. The truth is that there is a far greater connection between alcohol and violence and males aged 15-25 and violence then there is between mental illness and violence (Mindframe, 2014).

Supporting someone with mental illness

Ultimately, trained professionals are going to be the best support for individuals experiencing an acute mental illness episode. There is however important ways in which you can support someone you know who is (or you expect is) suffering from a mental illness.

Tips

1) Don’t try and diagnose, assess or treat the individual, leave this to trained professionals. By all means support the individual, but diagnosis and treatment needs to be done by people with specific knowledge and expertise.

To be supportive:

• Give the person opportunities to talk, make sure you choose a suitable time and space to talk (e.g. comfortable space, and both sober).

• Let the person know you are concerned about them

• Treat the person with respect

• Be as consistent in your emotions and understanding as possible. If you feel vulnerable yourself, best to give the individual some space. Any erratic or unstable behaviour from yourself will likely be more hindrance then benefit

• Be a good listener

• Don’t tell the person to snap out of it, or get over it.

• Sarcasm is likely to not be received as intended so best to not try it.

• Don’t try and come up with answers to their problems.

2) Encourage the person to see a professional

• Discuss the options they have for seeking help and encourage them to use those options

• Gain knowledge of services available in their local area and online

• If they are unwilling to see a mental health professional at this stage, a good place to start is their GP.

• If the person is very reluctant to seek assistance, discuss this openly with them. Their beliefs may be based on misconceptions or lack of knowledge on mental health assistance (e.g. seeking help for mental illness generally does not involve straightjackets, being locked in a padded room, or electrotherapy).

(Mental Health First Aid Australia, 2016)

Support Services

No matter the time of day there is always services available to help you through.

Phone 24 hours, 7 days a week.  

Australia: (+61) 1800 730 931 USA: 1 (888) 895-2815 Singapore: (+65) 800 852 3955

Germany: (+49) 0800 1801352 UAE: (+971)  800 0320509

Remember that the support service is there for you. We offer face-to-face, telephone, and video counselling to help individuals overcome mental illness and regain their mental health. We endeavour to help you strengthen your mental health and acquire the skills and resilience so that no matter what life throws your way you are able to overcome the challenges and live life to the fullest.

Enjoying mental health means having a sense of well-being, being able to function during everyday life and feeling confident to rise to a challenge when the opportunity arises. Just like your physical health, there are actions you can take to increase your mental health. Boost your well-being and stay mentally healthy by following a few simple steps.

1. Connect with others. Develop and maintain strong relationships with people around you who will support and enrich your life. The quality of our personal relationships has a great effect on our well-being. Putting time and effort into building strong relationships can bring great rewards.

2. Take time to enjoy. Set aside time for activities, hobbies and projects you enjoy. Let yourself be spontaneous and creative when the urge takes you. Do a crossword;  take a walk in your local park; read a book; sew a quilt; draw pictures with your kids; play with your pets – whatever takes your fancy.

3. Participate and share interests. Join a club or group of people who share your interests. Being part of a group of people with a common interest provides a sense of belonging and is good for your mental health. Join a sports club; a band; an evening walking group; a dance class; a theatre or choir group; a book or car club.

4. Contribute to your community. Volunteer your time for a cause or issue that you care about. Help out a neighbour, work in a community garden or do something nice for a friend. There are many great ways to contribute that can help you feel good about yourself and your place in the world. An effort to improve the lives of others is sure to improve your life too.

5. Take care of yourself. Be active and eat well – these help maintain a healthy body. Physical and mental health are closely linked; it’s easier to feel good about life if your body feels good. You don’t have to go to the gym to exercise – gardening, vacuuming, dancing and bushwalking all count. Combine physical activity with a balanced diet to nourish your body and mind and keep you feeling good, inside and out.

6. Challenge yourself. Learn a new skill or take on a challenge to meet a goal. You could take on something different at work; commit to a fitness goal or learn to cook a new recipe. Learning improves your mental fitness, while striving to meet your own goals builds skills and confidence and gives you a sense of progress and achievement.

7. Deal with stress. Be aware of what triggers your stress and how you react. You may be able to avoid some of the triggers and learn to prepare for or manage others. Stress is a part of life and affects people in different ways. It only becomes a problem when it makes you feel uncomfortable or distressed. A balanced lifestyle can help you manage stress better. If you have trouble winding down, you may find that relaxation breathing, yoga or meditation can help.

8. Rest and refresh. Get plenty of sleep. Go to bed at a regular time each day and practice good habits to get better sleep. Sleep restores both your mind and body. However, feelings of fatigue can still set in if you feel constantly rushed and overwhelmed when you are awake. Allow yourself some unfocused time each day to refresh; for example, let your mind wander, daydream or simply watch the clouds go by for a while. It’s OK to add do nothing’ to your to-do list!

9. Notice the here and now. Take a moment to notice each of your senses each day. Simply ‘be’ in the moment – feel the sun and wind on your face and notice the air you are breathing. It’s easy to be caught up thinking about the past or planning for the future instead of experiencing the present. Practising mindfulness, by focusing your attention on being in the moment, is a good way to do this. Making a conscious effort to be aware of your inner and outer world is important for your mental health.

10. Ask for help. This can be as simple as asking a friend to babysit while you have some time out or speaking to your doctor (GP) about where to find a counsellor or community mental health service. The perfect, worry-free life does not exist. Everyone’s life journey has bumpy bits and the people around you can help. If you don’t get the help you need first off, keep asking until you do.

For more information, or to speak to one of our friendly staff contact Veretis on:

Phone

Australia: (+61) 1300 878 379 USA: 1 (888) 895-2815 Singapore: (+65) 800 852 3955

Germany: (+49) 0800 1801352 UAE: (+971)  800 0320509

*This information was sourced from the Victorian State Government “Better Health Channel” document published in 2013

(Remember you and those around you are important to look after)

Veretis understands that the expertise and services of the service only extend so far and it is not a one-stop-shop for everything. At times, other external sources may be needed to compliment your work with Veretis to provide the support you need. Listed below is information and contact details for specialist organisations who provide free, confidential support and advice for a range of different issues and circumstances. Veretis engages the work of these organisations for numerous cases where specialised or extra expertise is required.

You do not need to contact Veretis to access the services of the below organisations. You can access them directly by clicking on the link or calling the phone number. Veretis cares about your overall well-being which is why we have provided the information below. If you believe that an organisation below may benefit yourself and what you are struggling with, but require extra advice, please don’t hesitate to contact Veretis to discuss and we can help you identify if one of the organisations below would be beneficial for you to engage with.

These are some of the more popular external resources Veretis links with. If you feel like what you are searching for is not listed below, please contact Veretis and we can discuss which of our other resources may be of benefit in your unique circumstance.

Contact Details:

Phone: 1300 878 379

Email: info@veretis.com.au

Below you will find resources for:

• Suicide/Self-Harm

• Domestic violence/Domestic abuse

• Drug and alcohol support services

• Family support services

• Financial aid support services

• General mental health support

• Legal aid support services

• LGBTI support services

If you or someone else are in immediate danger please call emergency services on 000 immediately.