Blooming Minds Mental Health & Wellbeing July 16 Issue

J U LY 2 0 1 6

ISSUE 4

BRANT GARVEY I N T E R V I E W

RIO OLYMPICS BOUND ATHELETE TALKS ABOUT ATTITUDE AND RESILIENCE

FINDING YOGA

GROUP YOGA TO HELP YOU DEAL WITH MENTAL PAIN

GROWING CHANGE

BY RENEE GARDINER

THE BUDDY SYSTEM JULIE MEEK

OVERCOMING BARRIERS @ WORK

BY PETER DHU

LETS TALK ABOUT IT HAVING THAT IMPORTANT CONVERSATION ABOUT SOMEONES MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING; BM DISCUSSES THE 3 VITAL ASPECTS

MAKING REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE WORKPLACE SHOW SUPPORT AND MEET YOUR OBLIGATIONS AS LEADERS

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ISSUE 5 july’16 4-6 LETS TALK ABOUT IT - TASHA BROOMHALL

BLOOMING MINDS EMAG

8-9 THE BUDDY SYSTEM - JULIE MEEK

Founder and Editor-in-Chief: TASHA BROOMHALL

10-12 BRANT GARVEY INTERVIEW - TASHA BROOMHALL

Deputy Editor: SHARNA MENSAH

14 FINDING YOGA - RACHEL WEST

Editing and proofreading: SHARNA MENSAH

16-17 MAKING REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE WORKPLACE

Contributing Writers: TASHA BROOMHALL SOPHIE BUDD JULIE MEEK

18 GROWING CHANGE - RENEE GARDINER 20-21 OVERCOMING BARRIERS AT WORK - PETER DHU

Contributing Photographers: CRAIG BROOMHALL CHRIS MILLEN PETE MANUEL

22-23 RECOGNISING WORKPLACE CULTURAL DIVERSITY 24-25 HELPING THE HELPERS

Typesetting and internal design: CRAIG BROOMHALL SHARNA MENSAH

26-27 GET RESOURCED 28 MENTAL HEALTH WEEK

www.bloomingminds.com.au

LEGAL STUFF

Blooming Minds© 2016 All Rights Reserved. We encourage you to share the content of this e-magazine with others who you think may be interested. However to comply with copyright please ensure that information is only shared in its full form and with the credit given to the authors.

The information, opinions, suggestions and ideas contained in this publication are based on the experience of the contributors and research information which is believed to be accurate but not infallible. All effort has been made to render this information free from error or omission.

Whilst written and presented in good faith, Blooming Minds and the contributors assume no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly from this information. The material cannot substitute for appropriate professional opinion, which would take into account individual factors, specific situations, environmental conditions or circumstances likely to influence actions taken or avoided at any time.

Please be advised, this presentation provides general information only, and should not be seen as professional advice specific to any particular situation, problem or person. If you require assistance for mental health issues please contact your medical practitioner or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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TASHA’S UPDATE Welcome to our winter edition!

This month we are focusing on how we can recognise and support the mental health needs of people around us. Whether it be in our family, at work or in our communities, we often recognise when someone is experiencing distress but do not always feel confident in responding to them.

In this edition we will focus on how to have a conversation with someone you are concerned about and resources available to help with this.

We also interview the super focussed and charming West Australian paratriathlete Brant Garvey who is about to represent Australia in the Rio Olympics and get his advice on how he believes we can support others with disability in the workplace.

The inimitable Peter Dhu shares with us his experiences growing up with a very intrusive stutter and how this affected him in the workplace, and how he overcame its impact to now be a sought after public speaker and public speaking coach.

We also discuss the impact that caring for others can have on us, and provide some tips for looking after yourself. In Australia we will soon be celebrating RUOK day – who will you connect with to check in with how they’re going and what you might be able to do to support them?

Best wishes

Tasha

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou

Photo Pete Manuel

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LETS TALK ABOUT IT One of the most important conversations you can have with a person is the conversation about how they are faring in terms of their mental health and wellbeing.

Many of us have had the experience of noticing a change in the behaviour or mood of someone we know and/or care about, yet we often do not know how to approach them to talk about mental health issues openly and respectfully.

Sometimes we say nothing because we are afraid of saying the “wrong” thing or offending the person. This might mean that we don’t connect with and offer help and support to someone who really needs it.

There are three components to having this conversation appropriately:

• APPROACH THEM SENSITIVELY – TIME, PLACE, LANGUAGE • DON’T DIAGNOSE – VALIDATE • DO WITH, NOT TO

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1. APPROACH THEM SENSITIVELY –TIME, PLACE, LANGUAGE

Neither of you should feel rushed, nor be likely to be interrupted. Choose a time when you are able to dedicate your full attention to the person and you can take the time to listen and connect with them, if they need you to.

“I don’t want to live in the kind of world where we don’t look out for each other. Not just the people that are close to us, but anybody who needs a helping hand. I cant change the way anybody else thinks, or what they choose to do, but I can do my bit.” ― Charles de Lint

The place where you talk about mental health issues is also a factor in that you should both feel safe and private (particularly in the workplace or anywhere that the person may be sensitive about disclosing their issues to others).

The language that you use is critical.

You have the best chance of engaging positively with the person if your language is respectful and non-judgemental.

Inappropriate language can increase stigma and prejudice. It can also increase misunderstanding and feed negative stereotypes, and make a vulnerable person feel more isolated, misunderstood and hopeless.

If the person has disclosed his or her diagnosis to you and is happy for you to share this information with others, then: Instead of “He’s suffering from schizophrenia” or “He’s schizophrenic”, say: • “He’s living with schizophrenia/depression/anxiety, etc.”

Instead of “She tried to top herself ” or “Unsuccessful suicide”, say: • “She attempted suicide.”

Instead of “He did himself in” or “He committed suicide”, say: • “He completed suicide.”

• “He died through suicide.”

2. DON’T DIAGNOSE – VALIDATE

Your goal for this discussion is not to diagnose or therapise someone.

The goal is to connect with them about their experience, and to support them to understand that mental health issues can be a common experience and that there is help available. Avoid using diagnostic terms and offering medical or psychological opinions unless you are qualified to do so. You want to validate that their experience is real for them and reassure them that there is help available.

Saying things such as: “It’s not that bad. You’re just making a mountain out of a mole hill,” is not helpful.

Instead say something that respects that their perspective is real for them, even if you don’t understand it, such as: “I’m so sorry that is what’s happening for you, that must be really difficult,” is more appropriate.

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3. DO WITH, NOT TO

Many people are tempted to offer advice and opinions on exactly what they think the person needs to do. In doing this you risk not connecting with the person and not empowering them to do what is truly the right thing for them.

Instead, offer information on a range of supports that are available (research this information before you have the discussion), and help the person to clarify their various options. Then allow them to make a decision as to how they wish to proceed and who they want to have involved in this process.

One way that I recommend to have this conversation is to use a simple 3 step process:

“I’ve noticed ...”

“Have you noticed ...?”

“Zip It!” Start the conversation by telling the person that you have some concerns about them and that you care about them. Describe what you have noticed that has led to these concerns. Keep your observations objective and measurable (you should not attempt to give them a diagnosis or just tell them your judgements and opinions!).

By stating the observed change in their behaviours or by simply saying, “I’ve noticed ...” you need to only focus on their behaviour, and not your interpretations of what this behaviour means.

Asking them “Have you noticed ...?” gives them an opportunity to connect with you if they choose to do so. It helps them to clarify if you are on the right track or if there is some other reason for their behavioural changes.

The final step in the process then involves you not saying anything: ‘Zip It!’ Many people find this the most difficult stage of the process, but it is vital that you let the person find, organise and relay their thoughts to you, if they so choose. You sometimes need to be silent for twice as long as you think is socially appropriate, to allow the person to catch up to you with their thoughts, and to decide what they are willing and comfortable to disclose in this situation.

If they do open up and talk to you about what is happening with them, your goal shouldn’t be to counsel them or come up with solutions for them (if it was that simple they would’ve figured it out for themselves already). Your goal is to connect with them, show compassion and empathy for their distress (even if you don’t understand it – the good news is you don’t have to!), and then help them continue towards getting some support and help.

Asking them the following questions may help you with this:

• Does anyone else know how you are feeling?

• Are you currently getting any support or help with this?

• Have you thought of what might be helpful for you?

• Is there anything that you can think of that I can do to help?

If they can’t think of anything, then maybe make some suggestions. You could help them to find generalist services and resources such as seeing a GP, or search for appropriate local services with them. If they do agree to go and see someone, it might help to offer to call and set up an appointment for them, or even to attend the appointment with them. This all depends on your relationship with the person and what is appropriate under the circumstances.

If they do not disclose anything and do not wish to have this conversation with you, then simply let them know that you are available in the future should they decide to talk. Provide them with suggestions of where they can get other support if they do not want to discuss their situation with you.

If at any point you have concerns about someone’s immediate safety or risk of suicide, do not leave the person alone.

Seek urgent crisis support. 3 In Australia call:

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 Lifeline 13 11 14

Written by Tasha Broomhall

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Learn when and whereonline you course want Mental Health in the Workplace for Leaders

Do your managers and supervisors know how to appropriately respond to mental health issues in their employees?

Do they understand their obligations around privacy and confidentiality?

4 online modules self-paced with optional personalised assessment of learning. Each module has videos, a recorded lesson and support notes.

Managers, supervisors and leaders learn about common mental health issues, their obligations to employees and appropriate strategies to respond to mental health issues in the workplace.

To find out more visit bloomingminds.com.au

your next keynote speaker “Tasha’s presentation was the highlight of our program.

– she is engaging, knowledgeable, inspiring and has a wonderful rapport with her audience.”

Gretta Koch, Agend and Community Services SA&NT

Keynotes Leading Through Change Equip your leaders with the skills and insights to lead people effectively through change processes.

Leaders Toolkit for Positive Workplace Mental Health A Workplace Mental Health strategy that you can apply to your own organisation and provides practical tools on how to open a conversation with someone you’re concerned about.

Are you Stressed or Are you Blooming?

Learn to gauge your own stress levels, to recognise stress reactions in yourself and others, and learn strategies to minimise personal stress and support your own positive mental health and wellbeing.

Mental Wellbeing We explore the continuum of mental health and wellbeing, identify why this is relevant to all of us and then discuss 5 Tips for motivating yourself and those around you to reflect on and enhance your mental health.

To watch an example of Tasha speaking click here!

Tasha Broomhall, the author of many titles including BLOOM! Mental Health and Wellbeing, whose approachable presentation style make her a must see speaker for any conference or workplace.

Enhance your delegates understanding of mental health with a humorous and uplifting keynote crafted to engage, inform and inspire.

Email info@bloomingminds.com.au or call Anna on 0409 922 155

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THE BUDDY SYSTEM Our first lesson in preventative health happens in kindergarten when we are allocated a ‘buddy’ to do an activity, go to the bathroom, walk between classrooms or cross the road together. Buddies keep an eye on each other, look out for danger and yell for help if it is needed.

Fast forward to life as an adult and many people in first world countries need help with their health. Although the prevalence of obesity and lifestyle diseases is skyrocketing, just 2% of the Australian state and federal budgets is spent on preventative health with the bulk of the health budget spent on the treatment of disease.

Treatment of disease is vital and

often urgent but far more costly than prevention. It is interesting that this type of imbalance also occurs within our own group of friends and family. When someone that we love or care for becomes seriously unwell or incapacitated everyone mobilizes to get them better or out of hospital and this is key to their recovery and the crowded hospital system. Yet, how much time do we spend encouraging or enabling the same people to prevent sickness in the first place? The buddy system that we had as kids could be a very effective strategy to improve and maintain our health as adults.

I love to exercise and while I invest time on a daily basis, I also know that I am not as good left to my own

devices. Regardless of my best intentions, my alarm clock and I are not the best of friends. I know that for my exercise routine to run smoothly and without incident, I need to have a weekly schedule of exercise sessions locked in and matched up with a buddy. Rachel, Belinda, Karin and Dave all have a special place in my week and they enable me to improve my fitness (hopefully I am doing the same for them too). Having an exercise buddy means increased motivation, faster progression (especially if they are faster or fitter than you), increased experimentation and knowledge, new and enhanced friendships and a good dose of fun. 


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Having an exercise buddy is a powerful motivator for me because I don’t want to let them down.

My buddies and I agreed from the outset that rain is just water and unless hail or lightening is streaking across the sky, we are going. The added bonus of kicking off at the crack of dawn is that nobody else needs us. This is harder for those with young kids waking early but it can be an opportunity to combine strength training and cardio by pushing them in the pram.

Choosing an exercise buddy should be considered with great care. If you get the initial check right, it could be a long and healthy relationship but if not, your health and friendships could suffer.

What to look for in an exercise buddy; 1. Exercise goals that match Commitment - when exercising alone, it is too easy to take your foot off the pedal. Without a buddy it is easy to tell yourself “Having one day off won’t hurt” or “I don’t feel like it, I will give it a miss”. If your exercise buddy is already on

their way to meet you or is counting on you, you’re far less likely to do something like that.

2. Fitness level - it is essential that you choose someone at the same or slightly higher fitness level than you. My exercise buddies continually push me to go faster and harder which means improved fitness, strength and flexibility.

3. Time available – ensure that you meet at a time with minimal distractions that suits both of you Compatibility.

I have come to realize that the value of an exercise buddy lies not just in health and fitness but can be so valuable in other areas of your life.

Exercise buddies can spend a lot of time together over the journey and often talk about things other than exercise. Solving the issues of the world while enjoying the fresh air are medicine for the soul and, let’s not forget one of the greatest benefits, fun. 3

Written by Julie Meek

Buddies keep an eye on each other, look out for danger and yell for help if it is needed.

A nutritionist and dietitian, Julie Meek is one of the most respected sports dietitians in australia with over 15 years’ experience in public, sports and corporate nutrition.

www.juliemeek.com.au

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BRANT

In 2013 Brant Garvey set a goal to start running. He had never run before, in fact he says that when he was growing up running was something that he never even imagined he could do. Brant was born as an above the knee amputee on one of his legs. Running had never been an option, however he had been an avid sportsman, as a member of the Australian National Basketball Wheelchair League and for two years played professional basketball in Spain. But Brant is the kind of person who has always had to push himself.

GARVEY

Growing up in Albany without the same mobility as his siblings and friends, Brant’s determined spirit meant that despite having to try harder and be creative to come up with ways to do the same things as those around him, he would persevere. The resilience and determination that this fostered in him has served him well because from having never run in his life just three years ago, he is soon flying out to www.bloomingminds.com.au represent Australia in Rio 2016 as a paratriathlete.

Written by Tasha Broomhall

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Brant says that the first time he tried to run was ‘A total failure! My leg came off as I was running along West Coast Drive.’ But he tried again, just like he has every time in his life that he’s wanted to learn a skill. He remembers ‘Growing up I was never able to just copy how others did things. I had to figure out what would work with my mobility, with my balance.’

And he has applied the same tenacity to developing his skills as a paratriathlete and qualifying for Rio. When playing wheelchair

basketball Brant says that the team members had a range of different disabilities and yet they had to figure out how to overcome their individual barriers and also how to work together as a strong collective. They did this so well that they developed into the best team in the league.

IRONMAN Western Australia (Busselton); was the 2016, 2015 & 2014 Oceania Champion; the 2016, 2015 & 2014 National Champion; achieved 6th Place at 2015 ITU World Championships Chicago, USA and achieved 1st Place at 2015 ITU World Paratriathlon Event in Sunshine Coast. Having had to reach the level of being in the top 7 paratriatheltes in the world to qualify for Rio, Brant has now achieved this.

and taught him to make the most of his abilities. They never pushed him, but if there was something he wanted to do they would drive him to training and never told him he couldn’t or shouldn’t try something new. He also credits his wife Natalie as being his biggest priority in life now as well as being his biggest supporter.

Brant credits his achievements as being partly due to the attitude and resilience that he developed being raised by strong supportive parents who never got in his way

After that first haphazard run, Brant kept trying and got to the point that running was enjoyable and not posing a challenge anymore. So he decided to up the

Over the years he has received assistance from Perth disability employment agency, Edge Employment Solutions. Brant sees disability as being a descriptive term, not a restrictive term and he ‘wishes the rest of the world could see that. Hiring an employee with

ante and got into cycling as well.

As his skills as a cyclist developed he then set his vision on doing a triathlon, all the while pushing himself to get better, faster, stronger. He went from never having run before, to competing in his first triathlon in one year.

And in the two years since he has continued to achieve and live up to his motto of ‘No excuses.’ He is the Current world record holder and first above knee amputee to complete an Ironman triathlon in Australia, the 2013 SunSmart

a disability is something that some people still shy away form but they shouldn’t. We are just as weird, wonderful and quirky as any other employee and often the disability isn’t even related to the job you might want to do, but employers still get worried and don’t know how to deal with it.’ Brant says that agencies like Edge are of great use in this instance as they can help educate employees and provide any support required to both the employee and employer when hiring someone with disability.

‘Some people just need a break, just need someone to give them an opportunity to prove themselves.

Do that and you’ll get a very

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committed employee. You both win.’ Brant says ‘If you’re curious about someone’s disability and how it might affect them, respectfully ask the question rather than just stare awkwardly or make up your own stories in your head.’

for-profit organisation determined to help address mental health problems openly among younger people. Brant ‘loves going to every single camp and talking to the kids and encouraging them that they can be and do what they want in life.’

As well as training three times a day for Rio, Brant also shares his story to motivate others, form schools to corporate events. However it is his role as a mentor for the WA based group zero2hero that means the most to him. zero2hero is a not-

These cold mornings see Brant up and out of bed training along the coast in the early hours of the morning all with the goal of being and doing the best he can. He goes into Rio as an underdog but that’s never limited him before.

Brant lives by the quote ‘start before you’re ready.’ And says that from that first day of running back in 2013 he experienced a mental shift of saying yes to opportunities in life and even though he started small, his dream for doing his best in Rio and getting a medal for Australia is now big. 3

Written by Tasha Broomhall

“START BEFORE YOU’RE READY” BRANT GARVEY Facebook: brant.garvey Twitter: @brantgarvey Instagram: brantgarvey Snapchat: @BrantGarvey Follow Brant as he prepares for Rio: https://brantgarvey.com/blog/ Links to support Brant: To partner with Brant: https://brantgarvey.com/partnership/ To donate: https://brantgarvey.com/donate/ To support through his shop: https://brantgarvey.com/shop/

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SOPHIE’S FOCCACIA

impress someone you care about with this easy-to-cook loaf to share You need: 2 sachets yeast (7g a sachet) 1 tbsp sugar or honey big pinch of salt 500ml warm water 650g approx flour 2 tbsp olive oil Toppings ...

- Thyme - Roasted Capsicum & Feta - Rosemary - Olives

Method Get a big bowl, put in the yeast, sugar, salt. Add the water. It must be blood temperature (37 degrees), not too cold or the yeast won’t react and not too hot or

you’ll kill it! Add the oil and then the flour and mix with a wooden spoon until it is a smooth dough. Leave for at least 20 mins for it to prove and get bigger in a warm place.

Grease a flat tray/tin with olive oil and then sprinkle with flour. Once the dough has proved, re-mix it and put on the tray, sprinkle with flour and pat down in to a dollop shape then gently rub with olive oil flaky salt or olives or more herbs. Leave to rise again for another 20 mins and bake in the oven at at least 190ºC until golden brown on top and so that when you pierce it with a knife, the knife comes out clean.

(Another way of testing is to knock the bread and if it has a hollow sound, it is done.)

Sophie Budd is chef and owner of Taste Budds Cooking Studio.

She is passionate about teaching people to cook and feeding people!

Her resume includes working for both Rick Stein and Jamie Oliver.

Call 0415365395 for more info or visit www.tastebudds.com.au/corporate

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FINDING YOGA Many people with persistent pain experience anxiety or depression.

This isn’t just because it’s unpleasant to have pain. Pain is a very human signal that something needs tending to, and depression and anxiety can serve to make you stop and pay attention.

A group yoga class can help you feel supported as you first accept and then heal with pain. If you have pain or you are supporting someone who does, here are tips for finding the right class.

I’ve had pain for a while, and other symptoms like fatigue, poor sleep or forgetfulness.

Start with a gentle pain-specific class to help reduce your symptoms by learning skills to calm the nervous system. Learning with others going through something similar can also help you feel “normal”. If you feel anxious closing your eyes during relaxation, keep them open but still to help your mind slow down.

My pain is well-managed but I don’t feel comfortable at general yoga classes.

Join a pain-friendly group class that matches your fitness level.

Pain-friendly classes are open to everyone but the teacher understands how pain works so are a nice transition to build your confidence.

medical treatment and it’s important to find a health practitioner you trust to rule out common or worrying causes of your pain. 3

Written by Rachael West

I want to dive straight in and understand more about pain and yoga.

A Yoga for Pain Program could be the best place for you. These structured courses help you understand how pain works and how to adapt yoga to improve your physical and psychological health.

I have an injury or trauma I need to sort out.

Seek out a yoga therapist or health practitioner with expertise in the field you want to work on. For example, a Feldenkrais practitioner, physiotherapist or yoga therapist can help with physical injuries; a psychologist or trauma-sensitive yoga teacher may be the best place to move through emotional trauma.

To find a pain-sensitive teacher in your area, visit Yoga for Pain Care Australia. Remember, yoga is not a

Personal experience with fibromyalgia led Rachael West to study Yogic Education at university in France. She runs Yoga for Pain Care Australia to help all people with pain access the benefits of yoga.

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RESOURCES Workplace Mental Health & Wellbeing Campaign

Concerned about someone’s mental health and not sure how to approach them?

You can develop your organisation’s mental health culture through a targeted information program that includes integrated articles in your newsletter, informative posters, information on your intranet to develop awareness, and skills to recognise and respond to mental health issues in the workplace. The pack is designed around a 12-month campaign to raise mental health awareness in your organisation and focusses on building the individual resilience of your employees.

“I've noticed…”

(State observable facts)

Let’s Talk About It Video Series Educational videos for your intranet about how to have appropriate workplace conversations in relation to mental health and wellbeing.

Titles: • Let’s Talk About It (How to have a conversation with a colleague or employee when you are concerned about their mental health. There are two versions of this video, one for performance concerns and one for personal concerns) • Do with not Do to (How to work with an employee to discuss and negotiate support that may be required if they are experiencing mental health issues that may be affecting their performance) • Suicide Concerns (recognising and responding to an employee who you feel may be at risk of suicide)

“Have you noticed..?”

(Ask for their perspective)

Ssshhh

(Be quiet and listen)

Your Logo Here

Your EAP Information here

Workplace Information Pack This pack includes short guidelines suitable for inclusion on your intranet.

Titles: • What is mental health and mental illness • General impacts of mental health issues in the workplace • How to respond if you have concerns about a colleague or employees mental health • Strategies for managing mental health issues with an employee • Responding to an employee or colleague who may be at risk of suicide • Resources and supports for looking after your own mental health and wellbeing

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MAKING REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE WORKPLACE Making reasonable adjustments to the everyday work tasks of someone who is experiencing mental illness is an important way to show support and to meet your obligations.

Supervisors and managers need to have a broad understanding of the most common mental illnesses and their possible functional impacts in the workplace so that when they identify these impacts, they will be able to meet their obligation to implement reasonable adjustments where possible. When designing reasonable adjustments, we must balance the organisation’s operational needs (including possible impacts on other employees) with the needs of the individual employee.

This simple model can assist in designing and implementing reasonable adjustments:

01

Design • Analyse (the core requirements of the job – e.g. key tasks, workflow issues, seasonal variations, KPI’s, location/work area issues, etc.)

• Assess (the employee’s functional capacity against these core requirements, using multiple sources of information; the individual, their supervisors, work output measurements, observations, etc.)

• Identify (possible reasonable adjustments to accommodate for the functional impacts)

02

Articulate The identified adjustments may require approval and discussion with HR/ senior management.

Articulate the process and decisions to the employee as you progress through the process. Determine with the employee how any visible adjustments will be articulated to other employees.

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Document

• Keep a record of: • the process • the determined adjustments • time frame for trial and review • KPI’s for review and • how the adjustments are being articulated to others.

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Follow up and follow through It is a good idea to start with a trial period and assess from there if the adjustments can or need to become permanent.

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Examples of adjustments: • Allow telephone calls during work hours to doctor/counsellor/ other supports, and provide a private place to do so • Flexibility with work schedule – hours/start time/work from home/change of duties • Minute all meetings and expectations to assist with memory and concentration issues • Don’t force people to attend social events if this is an issue for them

The type of adjustments will need to be individually designed.

There are some great resources to assist with this process: http://returntowork.workplace‐mentalhealth.net.au/ www.jobaccess.com.au www.jan.org

More examples: • A data entry clerk who lives with social phobia and has been having panic attacks in the open reception area where her desk is located, responded well to being moved to a more private office space. Her role did not require her to be based in the reception area and so she was then able to work with less distractions and less distress. This was a reasonable adjustment as it did not affect her completing the inherent requirements of her job, and her organisation had the office space available to relocate her.

• A factory assembly line operator living with schizophrenia was on medication (which covered most of the symptoms of his illness but not all) but he experienced ongoing auditory hallucinations which he recognised were not real and yet sometimes found distracting. He was authorised to listen to music through an iPod as a distractor from his hallucinations.

This assisted him in staying focussed on his task. An OHS assessment was done to ensure that he would not be at any risk by listening to the music rather than the noise of the factory.

• A senior lawyer living with bipolar disorder usually becomes unwell once every few years. However, due to the possible significant impact of his legal work, he has ongoing monitoring for his mental health. He has negotiated with his employer for them to liaise with his doctor and vice versa if either party identifies signs that he may be becoming unwell, at which point his fitness for work is assessed again. 3

Written by Tasha Broomhall

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GROWING CHANGE There is growing evidence of the benefits of horticultural therapy and garden settings in the reduction of pain, management of stress and agitation, and in many cases a reduced reliance on anti-depression medication.

In addition to the personal wellbeing gardening brings, it can also be an ideal activity to do together with someone you are trying to support who is living with mental illness.

Growing Change is a not-for-profit social enterprise that aims to bring socially isolated people back into the community through social farming.

Five years ago Renée Gardiner’s mum lost her life as a result of mental illness. Renée had seen how her mother enjoyed gardening even when she was not well.

As a result, Renée created Growing Change, and their signature 12 week program designed to help people suffering from mental illness through socialisation and skills training. On program completion, participants are given the opportunity to rent a plot in the garden and continue growing food for their own use, or sell to the program’s restaurant customers to gain an income.

Growing Change’s vision is a joined-up, empathetic and social economy, where age, mental illness and housing aren’t barriers to employment and connectedness. They make this happen by using the power of plants – creating training and employment opportunities for people within urban social farms, which grow premium organic vegetables.

Selling the produce will help to fund more farms, and more horticultural therapy, so they can reach out to more vulnerable people.

To find out more about Growing Change or to get involved in one of their programs go to www. growingchange.net.au or email hello@growingchange. net.au.

“Depression and anxiety can lead to the loss of lives for many Australians. Social farming can nurture and feed people back to better health.”

Photo Chris Millen of Millen Photo

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mental health first aid even more distressed that when his mate had told him how he was feeling, he hadn’t helped him.

They had been sitting watching the footy one afternoon and his friend, who was going through a long drawn out legal process, was really upset. He kept talking about how it was never going to end and how he had lost all hope of getting through it. He said: “I may as well just kill myself.”

If you’re walking through the park and a man near you has a heart attack, there would be many people who would want to help and some would even know CPR, so they would know what to do. But if another man said he is having thoughts of suicide, the same might not be true. People may not know what to do, nor understand what is happening, and many people would not know how to help.

Many people do not have the knowledge and skills to recognise and respond to mental health issues. Betty Kitchener and Professor Tony Jorm developed Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), which is a two day course designed to teach these skills and to educate the public about anxiety, depression, psychosis and substance use disorder. This program has been taught here in Australia for over a decade and is now taught in more than 20 countries across the world. Most workplaces have Occupational Health and Safety representatives that are trained in regular First Aid – in many industries it is mandatory, and thankfully, given the high prevalence rates, many people are now also training their supervisors, OSH reps and other first responders in MHFA. I had a guy come along to one of my courses and he said that he was there because his mate had attempted suicide. He wanted to know how to help someone if they were ever in that situation. He told me that he was distressed that his mate had tried to kill himself, but

And the man in my course turned to his mate and said: “Don’t talk stupid, it’ll be ok. But what about these bloody Dockers. Are they ever going to have a good season?”As he told me this I could see that he was full of pain and regret. He went on to tell me: “I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to help him. I wanted him to have a break from thinking about it – not to get too caught up with it – it had been going on for so long and wasn’t going to change anytime soon, so I thought if we just talked about the footy for a while, it would make him at least forget or not worry – just for a while. But instead all it did was make him feel alone, isolated and unable to get the support he needed. And I feel terrible for that.”

Sadly some people will end their life despite our best efforts to assist them, but there are certainly ways that we can engage with someone to make it more likely that they are able to get help. Sometimes they make comments to test the waters with us – to see if we can indeed help them, and in those instances we need to have the skills and confidence to know what to say.

Mental Health First Aid is a two day course that I think should be mandatory for all first responders, all OSH reps, all parents, teachers… actually it’s a great course for all adults!

As well as the standard MHFA there are also other versions of this program such as Youth Mental Health First Aid (for adults working with young people); teenMHFA (delivered to whole school years of teenagers); Indigenous MHFA and Vietnamese MHFA. For more information visit: http://bloomingminds.com. au/product/mental-health-first-aid/ 3

Written by Tasha Broomhall

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Living and working as a Medical Scientist in a teaching hospital, with a severe stutter and inability to be understood, posed significant problems for me. My early career was confined to the basement of the pathology lab, doing great work detecting parasites and other infectious diseases, but unable to communicate, not answering phones and not participating in meetings. So what can you do if you find yourself isolated, unable to effectively communicate and largely alone within your workplace?

I was lucky that I had a supportive wife who I could communicate with at home and my stutters were accepted unconditionally. True my wife had to answer our home phone and order for me at restaurants, and speak up at school meetings, but that was largely to help me and ease the burden of communication on my part.

I was also good at sports and participated in some of the workplace lunchtime sports activities. This kept me engaged and I guessed normalised my presence at work. “So he doesn’t say much but he plays cricket and football with us all”.

OVERCOMING BARRIERS @ WORK Peter is a public speaking trainer and coach who helps people unlock their potential through the spoken word. He shows you how to share your message, passion and ideas so that you can change the world one conversation at a time. Peter is also a person who stutters.

I also belonged to a self-help group for people who stutter, called the Speak Easy Association (not to be confused with those venues from the American alcohol prohibition days). My Speak Easy support group gave me a venue and a forum to share my struggle and frustrations with people experiencing similar things. Many of them had turned their lives around and had been through speech therapy and were not allowing their stutter to hold them back, as I was.

It wasn’t until I had the courage to seek out a speech pathologist that things started to change. I waited a long time to do this and operated from a position of avoidance and hoping that one day there would be a miracle cure.

There is not. The speech pathologist gave me some skills to control and reduce my stuttering. She required me to practise during the week and come back and see her once a week.

Gradually I developed some fluency skills and control over my stutter. I still stutter, but am much better than before.

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I guess all through my teenage years, University years and early career I had a clear goal and clear belief in what I wanted. It started with my chemistry set as a 7 year old and my first microscope as a 10 year old. This self-belief and goal helped me to stay strong and focused on what I wanted despite my struggle and my stutter.

So what can you do if you find yourself struggling or feeling isolated at work.

My suggestions include:• Find people who will support you and not judge you, such as family and friends • Do things that you are good at outside of work or in work, including workplace sports teams, playing cards at lunch or assisting others to solve crossword puzzles • Join a support group that will also help you and guide and in my case they even mentored me and set me on my journey • Sometimes we need to seek out professional help • Try and have goal or a small target you try and reach each week, or each month What can people in the workplace do to help people like me who stutter?

• Please listen to what I say, not how I say it.

• Be patient it takes me longer to speak than others

• Just because I may appear evasive or struggle to answer a question, does not mean I am stupid • Focus on the things I do well and not just the way I speak • If I don’t speak up at meetings or volunteer information, understand I may be having a bad speaking day.

And please do not:• Finish the words or sentences for me • Mimic or copycat the way I speak • Make fun of me, as it takes a lot of courage to speak up.

One of the things that will happen to all of us at some stage is that barriers and challenges will be thrown at us. Some of our own making and some that we have no control over. It is how we handle these challenges that makes the difference. Victor Frankl said “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” So when those barriers and challenges arise, what you can control, what choices do you have what action can you take to look after yourself, move forward and start a new journey. This is what I had to do to start to take control of my stutter. What are you going to do? 3

Written by Peter Dhu

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Recognising Workplace Cultural Diversity Cultural diversity is one of the Australia’s biggest assets. There is a growing acknowledgement of the collaborative and innovative benefits of culturally diverse teams in the workplace. Simply working in a diverse environment is not enough however to increase innovation and collaboration. If there is not enough cultural intelligence applied, forming teams with such diverse backgrounds can lead to greater conflict and less productivity. In other words, simply having a culturally diverse team does not make it more productive or innovative, the team must also be culturally intelligent.

building stronger organisations. The 2011 census confirmed WA is one of the most diverse and fastest growing of all Australian States and territories.

Being culturally smart could make this your organisation’s biggest asset, but by simply treating this with a shrug or even acknowledging this as a fact, but not changing business practice as a result, you will not optimise your business.

As someone who lived in South Africa during the apartheid years, I can tell you that they’ve

The CaLD (culturally and linguistically diverse) community is generally defined as people born overseas in countries where the main language is not English. This does not mean that someone from the UK for example does not experience cultural differences in Australia, but research indicates those from nonEnglish speaking countries have greater barriers to engagement.

It may not surprise you that the top CALD communities in Australia come from Italy, Malaysia and India.

China and Vietnam are also at the top, but with more second and third generation CaLD communities. After the UK and New Zealand (not defined as CaLD communities) more than half (52% of WA parents) were born overseas. 26% of Australians are born overseas and 46% of our parents are born overseas. And immigration is most likely to increase in the future. Perth has the highest CaLD populations rates of all capital cities in Australia.

The importance of CQ (cultural Intelligence) is increasingly evident, especially in Australia.

Simply involving people of the CaLD community would not necessarily lead to them being empowered or

made very little progress in the last two decades post-apartheid in seeing better results from their diverse workforce.

the changes into our marketing plans, our general interaction and have real conversations around it. Sometimes we are too PC, too afraid to address issues as we may offend.

We need to take more responsibility as individuals. It is not up to others – speak up if you see someone is not treated right or reach out and connect.

There are few things as daunting and depressing as feeling disconnected.

Each and every one can make a change, don’t just wait for someone else to speak up or make a change.

Having appropriate strategies in place to make CaLD employees feel included is crucial to the growth of your organisation, and the economic growth of this country for that matter.

It needs to be planned and integrated in day to day interaction. One of the most effective ways to reach new markets, for people to feel connected, to grow in our humanity, is to nurture our CaLD community. In return, they will assist us in reaching a global market and feel more at home in our own diverse backyard.

This is not just fluffy training, but for sustainable outcomes we need to take action and build strategies around supporting the CaLD Community.

This shows us that diversity alone does not lead to (cultural Intelligence) better results, happier people and healthier economies. So what do we need to do to engage the CaLD community and grow stronger organisations and create high functioning diverse teams?

How can you change your daily practice to be more inclusive and consider the CaLD community both within your workplace and your client base?

Contact Tanya from RedHead Communications for a cultural audit of your organisation or subscribe to our newsletter for tips and tricks in navigating culture.

We need to identify the diversity of our CaLD workforce and clients, and map it out. We need to make this awareness part of our daily routine and implement

i) Government of WA, Cultural Diversity in WA 2013 ii) Australian Human rights Commission 2014 3

Written by Tanya Finnie 22

Tips For Improving Communication With CaLD Colleagues 1. Don’t treat others like you would like to be treated.

(Treat them like they would like to be treated, which could very well be different from your automatic reaction) 2. Use ears and mouth proportionately. Ask questions and listen, rather than speaking all the time. This is how we learn about others!

3. Don’t speak louder. Sometimes people tend to speak louder when they speak to someone from another linguistic background.

4. Be Patient.

5. Double check understanding. (Don’t patronise, but check where necessary if the intended message was understood if unclear. You can for example repeat what you’ve heard in different words)

Tanya Finnie is an expert in building relations and installing confidence in individuals. Tanya has consulted in a variety of rural community and government based projects throughout Africa and Western Australia. Her work in remote communities and the corporate world provided some great case studies on the impact culture has on relationships.

She is passionate about bringing people together through building rapport and culturally appropriate communication.

www.redheadcommunications.com

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HELPING the HELPERS

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Who Cares About the Carers?

Supporting a loved one or friend with mental health issues can take its toll. There can be a financial, physical and emotional toll. It’s important that carers get support for themselves and look after themselves to minimise the impacts.

The people who are very responsive and compassionate about supporting the needs of others, often don’t take as good care of their own needs.

Providing intense support to another can have an impact on us which we then need support for. If you think that you may need some help setting appropriate boundaries around those you are supporting, then get some support from a specialised Carers service: Helping Minds (contact details) Carers Australia (contact details) If you think you could be developing mental health issues yourself, then seek support. A great place to start is to find a GP who you feel comfortable talking with about your mental health issues. Call your medical practice and ask the receptionist to recommend a doctor who is up-to-date and helpful with mental health issues. The receptionist will usually have a good idea of who in the practice fits this bill, and will happily give you this information. Book a double appointment with the GP to talk about your concerns.

If you are feeling nervous you can take a trusted friend or family member with you. Alternatively write a list before you go, detailing your concerns so that if you feel overwhelmed you can pass the list to the doctor to read instead. The GP will do an assessment and determine a treatment plan with you that may include referral to a psychologist or another allied health professional; medication or other medical treatments; lifestyle changes and other complimentary therapies.

There are many different treatment options but remember mental illness is not a ‘one size fits all’ experience. It is an individual experience and as such your treatment plan should also be individual. If you feel the need, seek a second opinion and look at what options will suit you best. The important thing is to get some help. Explore your options and take your mental health seriously.

Tips for carers: 1. Practice simple meditations that you can do during the day or night when you’re feeling overwhelmed (you can download ours for free here).

2. Talk to your local Carers support service, in-home support agencies and also other family members or friends to arrange respite wherever possible and use that time to take yourself away from the house or do something for yourself.

3. Give yourself permission to do what you can to look after yourself.

4. Engage with nature, simply sit or take a walk in a park, along the beach or river and enjoy the peace that being connected in nature can bring.

5. Keep in contact with friends and family, encouraging visitors to still come and stay in touch, maybe make a regular.

6. Is there a hobby you can participate in, even from home if you can’t always get out to events? Something to bring pleasure and positive engagement into your day.

7. Try to keep eating balanced meals (a good idea is to cook double amounts and then freeze one portion so you only have to cook every second night)

If you have employees who are carers the impact of supporting their loved one can take its toll on them.

If they do discuss their role with you encourage them to seek support from your organisations EAP (Employee counselling service) or from a GP. As a proactive measure in your workplace you can provide information about carers support services in your area (on your intranet, brochures in lunch areas / noticeboards, asking the support agencies to submit an article for your employee newsletter). 3

Written by Tasha Broomhall

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GET RESOURCED

These resources can provide support to individuals living with mental health issues and their families. You could print these pages and put them on your employee noticeboards or in the lunch rooms to encourage people to get support for themselves and their loved ones.

AUSTRALIA Helping Minds

Grow

Helping Minds provide support and services to children, youth, adults and families who are caring for someone with mental illness or individuals who are affected by mental illness. http://helpingminds.org.au/

Grow is a community-based organisation that helps people recover from mental illness through a program of mutual support and personal development. http://www.grow.org.au/

JobAccess

Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia

JobAccess is a comprehensive, easy to use website and a telephone information service that provides advice on disability employment related matters. It offers help and workplace solutions for people with disability and their employers. The website also has links to disability employment services that provide support to individuals and employees. http://www.jobaccess.gov.au/

The Mental Illness Fellowship represents the interests of people affected by Mental Illness.

MIFA has member organisations operating in every state and territory of Australia that can provide information about local services. http://www.mifa.org.au/index.php/en/ primarylinkshome/contact-us

Mental Health in Multicultural Australia

Suicide Call Back Service provides free phone, video & online counselling for anyone affected by suicide 1300 659 467 https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/

Advice and support to providers and governments on mental health and suicide prevention for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. http://www.mhima.org.au/

Suicide Call Back Service

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INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES

UK Mental Health Foundation

Practical advice to help your mental health and wellbeing, statistics, links to services, blogs and much more https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/

Mind

Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. http://www.mind.org.uk/

Rethink Mental Illness

You can call the Rethink advice and information line for practical advice on: o different types of therapy and medication o benefits, debt, money issues o police, courts, prison o your rights under the Mental Health Act Call Rethink on 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate).

USA Mental Health America

Guided by the Before Stage 4 (#B4Stage4) philosophy – that mental health conditions should be treated long before they reach the most critical points in the disease process, MHA focus on prevention, identifying symptoms, and developing a plan of action to reverse and hopefully stop the progression of mental illness. http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/

US Department of Health and Human Services

Information about mental illness and health services available including for veterans and their families. https://www.mentalhealth.gov/

NEW ZEALAND Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand

Information on mental health conditions, where to get help and how to support those you love and care about. Although they are not a counselling or advice service, they have information officers to point you in the right direction to find help. http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/

Health and Disability Commissioner New Zealand

Information about advocacy for your self and a loved one living with mental illness http://www.mhc.govt.nz/

SINGAPORE SAMH

The Singapore Association for Mental Health seeks to promote mental health in the community and improve the rehabilitation and reintegration of people living with mental illness through a range of programs and services. http://www.samhealth.org.sg/

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MENTAL HEALTH WEEK 9th-15th OCTOBER 2016

Has your organisation planned an event for Mental Health Week?

Book Blooming Minds Director and Author of ‘Bloom’, Tasha Broomhall, to deliver a lunch and learn session at your workplace.

The most popular sessions are:

Mental Health Week - Let’s Talk About It

Talking about mental health, and how to have a conversation about mental health with someone that you are concerned about, professionally or personally.

Mental Health Week - Stress Resiliency and Looking After Yourself in Times of Change

Looking after your own mental health. Stress is a big influence on mental health and resiliency to stress, especially around times of change can have a big impact on work performance and attitude.

We are more than happy to customise these, or any other of our sessions, to suit your needs.

For more information on other events being held during Mental Health Week go to http://mhw.waamh.org.au/2016-events/

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Over to You STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH - NICE THINGS PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH US SAY

Fantastic opportunity to understand mental illness and dealing with a difficult subject... but it just got a whole lot easier. Thanks.

C. Cumming

Digital Channel Manager, Water Corporation

Tasha spoke not only with obvious knowledge but also great heart. Her presentation was practical and accessible and left listeners with insights and tips that they could begin to use straight away in dealing with adversity or simply delighting in the blessings in life. One of the things that spoke most loudly about Tasha’s presentation was her willingness to be vulnerable. It was a powerful way to begin a great session that left me feeling that I had the keys to both bloom and be buoyant, a great extension on the topic of resilience.

D. Cramer

Author (Happiness and it’s Causes Conference)

We were thrilled to present your inspiring and moving talk on mental health. The response to your talk was overwhelmingly positive.

Some of the wonderful comments that were made: Your presentation truly touched us all. On behalf of myself and my colleagues, I’d like to say how we are thinking about new ways we can reach out and help our community in a profound way as you did.

I was prepared to be bored, but this lady was one of the most amazing, engaging, and interactive speakers I’ve ever witnessed. Worthy of a TED talk.

Her delivery was as excellent as the content of her presentation. Her presentation would not be out of place at any TED event or TED.com.

Joel Miller

Creative Director TEDx Perth

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