Psych Health and Safety Podcast

In this episode, Sharon Moffat, a mental health trainer and speaker, shares her personal journey with mental illness and how she transitioned from being a personal trainer to working in the mental health space. She discusses the impact of workplace pressure and relationships with leaders on mental health and emphasizes the need for organizations to be aware of these factors. Sharon also highlights the importance of mental health first aid and signposting, as well as the need to talk about women's mental health and the mental health impact of breast cancer. She concludes by offering advice to listeners and her younger self.

In this research synopsis episode, Professor Tony LaMontagne discusses his published paper titled "Work-related causes of mental health conditions and interventions for their improvement in workplaces", published in The Lancet in 2023. The paper explores the evidence that psychosocial hazards harm mental health and provides recommendations for addressing these hazards in the workplace. https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au/handle/10072/426372

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Christina Hey-Nguyen and Alex Rowe from the SafeWork NSW Respect at Work Taskforce. They share why the Taskforce was formed, the 4-year strategy, the approach to regulation taken by the Taskforce, and what employers can expect from a Taskforce inspection or investigation. They share their views on what reasonably practicable means in relation to workplace sexual harassment, and the methods and approaches employers should be considering from a prevention perspective. https://www.nsw.gov.au/business-and-economy/respect-at-work https://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-10/respect-at-work-strategy-2023-2027.pdf https://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-10/workplace-sexual-harassment-reporting-options.pdf https://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-10/workplace-sexual-harassment-regulation-map.pdf

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Ben Caldwell, communications coordinator for Rangitīkei District Council. He shares his approach to creating a personality for a local government social media account ("Ben from Comms"), and the value that an engaging social media presence can provide to local government. He talks about the types of psychosocial hazards he experiences in his social media work, and shares suggested strategies for individuals and employers to better protect people who work in social media.

In this special 200th episode of the Psych Health and Safety Podcast, hosts Jason, Joelle, and Peter celebrate the milestone and make exciting announcements. They introduce the newest co-host for the UK stream of the podcast, Kate Field. The hosts reflect on the journey of the podcast and the valuable insights gained from interviewing industry leaders. They discuss the growing interest in psychological health and safety and the adoption of ISO 45003. The episode concludes with a discussion on companies that are excelling in the field of psych health and safety.

James Owen Lewis, a human sustainability leader at Deloitte, shares insights into workplace mental health and holistic wellbeing. He highlights the troubling state of mental health in the UK and critiques existing superficial programs. Emphasizing a need for systemic change, he advocates for tailored strategies that address root causes. The discussion also explores the triple bottom line approach, linking employee satisfaction with financial performance and environmental impacts. Lewis calls for collective action and innovative practices to improve workplace conditions.

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Joe Grasso, Clinical Psychologist and Vice President, Workforce Transformation at Lyra Health. Joe talks about the healthcare context in the United States and the role of the EAP within that context. He talks about the opportunity for EAP providers to engage in primary prevention work with their client organisations. He shares the typical approach to EAP delivery in the US and outlines some of the challenges inherent in common EAP business models. He offers advice for organisations evaluating EAP providers to ensure that they contract with providers who are providing high quality clinical care.

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Nerida Jessup, Partner at Herbert Smith Freehills. Nerida shares her perspectives on the Right to Disconnect Bill and discusses similar legislation outside of Australia, and the apparent overlaps between this bill and WHS legislation. She offers advice for businesses preparing for the new laws to come into effect.

Content warning: Suicide In this episode, UK host Peter Kelly chats with Steve Phillip, Founder of the Jordan Legacy. Steve shares the thinking and purpose behind the Jordan Legacy, and the work that the Legacy does with businesses and government to support meaningful suicide prevention activities. https://thejordanlegacy.com/

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle interview Shannon Butcher, Organisational Psychologist and Deputy Director - Master of Industrial and Organisational Psychology Program at the University of Western Australia. Shannon tells us about a research project on the state of work in Australia, exploring job satisfaction, psychological safety, employer concern for employee wellbeing, and views on the future of work. https://psychology.org.au/about-us/news-and-media/media-releases/2023/australian-workforce-survey-2023-finds-workers-at