Supporting employee mental health and wellbeing
Mental illness is now the leading cause of sickness absence and long-term work incapacity in Australia. At Suncorp Group, we prioritise continual investment in employee wellbeing. We are proud to partner with the Black Dog Institute on initiatives that promote a mentally healthy workplace for all employees, backed by its leading medical research.
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More Australians are absent from their workplace due to stress and anxiety than the flu and other physical illnesses or injuries, says the Black Dog Institute.
Their workplace mental health research tells us that mental illness was also associated with high levels of presenteeism (when someone remains at work even though they’re experiencing symptoms, resulting in lower levels of productivity), making workplace mental health and wellbeing more critical than ever for the corporate sector.
Suncorp Group is passionate about investing in employees’ mental health. It’s not just important, it’s a priority, and progress begins with awareness, education and support at all levels of the organisation.
The Group’s partnership with the Black Dog Institute, an independent not-for-profit medical research institute, was established in 2023 to help our employees and customers feel supported and educated on how to look after their own mental health.
Suncorp Group seeks partnerships that support the resilience of our people and the communities we serve.
Black Dog Institute Senior Manager, Partnerships, Stevie Anderson explained the Institute had a clearly articulated vision of a mentally healthier world, and partners like Suncorp Group allowed the Institute to get closer to achieving this vision through education, advocacy and financial support of mental health research.
“Suncorp Group understands investing in employees’ mental health and wellbeing is a necessity for any good workplace,” she said.
Tasman Cassim of Black Dog Institute and Matthew Leslie, EGM People & Culture Strategy, Suncorp Group, at a partnership event in Brisbane 2023.
A key outcome of the partnership to date is the development of new training and education workshops and courses, informed by Black Dog Institute medical research and curated by its scientists and experts.
Since January 2023, more than 600 leaders across Suncorp Group have completed the Black Dog Institute’s interactive workshop ‘Managing for Team Wellbeing’, providing participants with the skills required to support their teams.
The training includes the latest information on how to recognise when someone needs support, and how to provide it effectively. As well as building awareness, it provides practical steps (through roleplaying) to bridge the barriers to having difficult or uncomfortable conversations with team members about mental wellbeing.
The workshop and course content were developed from the latest medical research, including a randomised control trial conducted by Professor Sam Harvey, Black Dog Institute Executive Director and Chief Scientist.
“Leaders are the ones that set the workplace environment and can generate more mentally healthy workplaces; they are also the ones who can spot when people are in trouble, and can facilitate them getting help,” he said.
The courses are all delivered either by registered or clinical psychologists, and the Institute’s Workplace Mental Health Research Team regularly updates modules with the latest course content and statistics.
Suncorp Group Executive Manager Safety, Wellness & Resilience, Andrea Gordon said the partnership with the Black Dog Institute had a great impact.
“The Institute’s knowledgeable teams have been instrumental in elevating mental health awareness across our business. We have a number of ways our people can engage with the Black Dog Institute’s resources, whether that’s self-paced and online learning, facilitated leader workshops or through webinars or panel discussions," she said.
Suncorp Group leader feedback on the training has been positive, particularly regarding new knowledge around how to help and support others with confidence.
Course feedback from a Suncorp Group Leader
Most of the content taught me something I didn't already know and gave many great tools and guides. One of the best learnings was around how to structure and approach a conversation with a team member who you believe may be experiencing a mental health issue.
Workplace mental health and wellbeing training is also offered to all Suncorp Group employees
Everyone who works at Suncorp Group has access to online training modules about common mental health issues and what our people can do to:
take care of themselves and others,
improve their mental health knowledge,
reduce stigma, and
encourage earlier and more effective help-seeking behaviours.
Workplace mental health and wellbeing is more important than ever for the corporate sector.
Creating a safe and mentally healthy workplace has always been important. As Black Dog Institute Workplace Engagement Manager Leighton Hellem-Williams explained, work is where we spend a huge amount of our time and, while workplaces do not contribute 100 per cent to one’s status of mental health and wellbeing, they certainly have a huge influence.
“Workplaces where people suffer things like poor job control, low autonomy, low access to training and support, and are subject to traumatic events without increased levels of support, can put us at risk of developing a mental health condition,” she said.
“Workplaces can mitigate those risks or increase protective factors that help us cope with risks like increased flexibility, autonomy, wellbeing support and education.
“Mentally healthy workplaces retain team members and healthy teams support the creation of supportive relationships in the workplace.
“Workplaces have the power to create safe places for people to go through those challenges with support, a sense of purpose, and compassion.”
Suncorp Group Executive Manager Safety, Wellness & Resilience, Andrea Gordon shares Ms Hellem-Williams' vision for creating mentally healthy workplaces and is committed to exploring projects that drive the vision forward.
"We’re excited to continue to partner with the Black Dog Institute on workplace education initiatives as we grow and embed the skills we need to support a mentally healthy workplace now and in the future," Ms Gordon said.
