WORK HEALTH SAFETY, HUMAN RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS NEWS

ISSUE 2 | MAY 2020

Mental Health and Wellbeing

OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF MOTOR TRADES CARE AND MOTOR TRADERS’ ASSOCIATION OF NSW

WORK HEALTH SAFETY, HUMAN RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS NEWS

ISSUE 2 | MAY 2020

There are numerous benefits of a mentally healthy workplace for both the team members and the organisation as a whole. A few of the benefits include employee retention, improved productivity, decreased sick leave and enhanced employee engagement.

Poor mental health is more prevalent during challenging times such as those being experienced in the present climate. Isolating from friends and family, supporting children with home schooling, financial hardships, concerns regarding contracting Covid-19 and the uncertainty surrounding the future are just some of the factors currently impacting our mental health and wellbeing.

Managers and Supervisors play a key role in creating a mentally healthy workplace as they have direct contact with employees on a day to day basis. Below are some key things Managers and Supervisors can do to improve the mental health of their workplace.

1. Educate yourself on mental health and wellbeing. For mental health resources visit SafeWork NSW www.mentalhealthatwork.nsw.gov.au/mental-health-at-work-during-the-covid-19-pandemic and Heads Up www.headsup.org.au

2. Communicate regularly with your team to build engagement. This includes obtaining feedback and actively listening to what they have to say.

3. Encourage respectful behaviour within your team by setting clear expectations.

4. Complete Mental Health First Aid training mhfa.com.au

5. Educate your team on mental health and wellbeing

6. Support your team. If you notice someone is not quite themselves and you are concerned about their mental health, ask them if they are ok. For help regarding having this conversation visit R U OK? www.ruok.org.au

7. Encourage your organisation to invest in an Employee Assistance Program (if you don’t already have one)

8. Look into Mental Wellbeing Apps such as Mentemia, which is currently free during the pandemic. www.mentemia.com/au/covid-19

Start the conversation about mental health and wellbeing by sharing this bulletin with your team.

Mentally Healthy Workplace

P2 | OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF MOTOR TRADES CARE AND MTA NSW

WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY, HUMAN RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS NEWS FOR THE MOTOR TRADES INDUSTRY

P3 | OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF MOTOR TRADES CARE AND MTA NSW

ISSUE 2 | MAY 2020

Mental Health and WellbeingMaintaining good mental health is just as important as physical health. Both contribute to our overall health and wellbeing and are intrinsically linked.

While we cannot control Covid-19 and the complexities surrounding it, there are still ways we can manage our own mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic.

Below are some of the ways you can maintain or improve your mental health, including:

• Building Resilience,

• Practicing Gratitude,

• Eating Well and

• Exercising.

Building ResilienceResilience is about coping with tough times. Things in our lives don’t always go as planned. In fact, there are times when some crappy things come our way which is not great. When this happens, what’s important is how we get up, move forward and grow. Some people seem to do this very well. They bounce back when things don’t go their way, let go of negativity and move forward in a positive way. We think this is just the way they are, but in fact resilience, like optimism, can be learned and strengthened. Like anything, the earlier we start and the more we practice, the better we get. Just like professional athletes build their strength and skills, we can build our resilience.

Tips to Build Resilience

• Look after your body. Eat well, exercise, have quality rest and sleep and watch your use of alcohol and drugs. This gives your brain a healthy platform.

• Look after your mind. Give your brain a rest. Maybe you could meditate or try mindfulness? Like muscles, our brains need time to recuperate.

• Build the right mental habits. Watch for negative self-talk. What do you tell yourself about what’s happening? Change ‘I can’t do it’ to ‘I’ll give it a crack’ or ‘nothing

changes’ becomes ‘things will be OK’. Visualise yourself overcoming the challenge.

• Right-size issues. Watch out for making things bigger than what they may be. Break things down into chunks, do one thing at a time and celebrate your success.

• Keep perspective. Helping someone else helps us get out of our own heads, makes us feel good, keeps our problems in perspective and gives us a chance to learn from others.

• Keep it real. There are things that happen that we don’t like and sometimes we must accept things for what they are. Change is inevitable and part of life – we can’t change that!

• Know your game. Use techniques and parts of your game you’re already good at. If humour works, make jokes or if talking helps, phone a friend.

• Build relationships. Every athlete needs a cheer squad so build yours to help you when you need it and celebrate with you when you have a success.

You can build resilience through increasing adaptability and managing your responses to change. This happens when you:

1. Overcome adversity, reflect on how you did it and what you learned so that with the next challenge your responses are more considered and deliberate.

2. Have a positive attitude to change; accept that life will not remain the same.

3. Learn how to have stability in your core values and be flexible in your own circumstances.

4. Understand what brings you happiness and be determined to keep these things in your life during times of challenge.

5. Work on having emotional balance during times of change.

“ Resilience, like optimism, can be learned and strengthened...

WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY, HUMAN RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS NEWS FOR THE MOTOR TRADES INDUSTRY WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY, HUMAN RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS NEWS FOR THE MOTOR TRADES INDUSTRY

P4 | OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF MOTOR TRADES CARE AND MTA NSW

ISSUE 2 | MAY 2020

Practicing GratitudeThe practice of gratitude is more than being grateful when someone gives you something or does something for you. It’s about consciously appreciating what is valuable and meaningful to you.

You may be grateful for:

• Your kids/partner

• Your family

• Your friends

• Being healthy

• Having a safe and productive day at work

• A sunny day

People who regularly practice gratitude have a greater sense of wellbeing. The practice of gratitude is easy, doesn’t take a lot of time or effort and can be done with other people. There are three ways you can practice gratitude. You can:

• Think about gratitude. Make regular time to think about the things you are grateful for. Maybe on the way home from work, while you’re exercising or over your first morning coffee or tea?

• Talk about gratitude. Tell other people what makes you grateful. Talk about it with your family in the car or over dinner. It doesn’t take much to say thank you!

• Write about gratitude. Keep a journal or make a list on the fridge or on your phone to remind yourself of things you appreciate.

“ It’s about consciously appreciating what is valuable and meaningful to you.

WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY, HUMAN RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS NEWS FOR THE MOTOR TRADES INDUSTRY

P5 | OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF MOTOR TRADES CARE AND MTA NSW

ISSUE 2 | MAY 2020

Eating Well To ensure your body is performing at its best, both mentally and physically, a healthy well-balanced diet is essential. What we eat has an influence over our mental wellbeing. Eating healthy foods promotes the growth of good bacteria in our gut which can increase the hormone serotonin, also known as the happy hormone, thus improving our mental wellbeing. Similarly, poor gut health impacts on our mental wellbeing, making us feel lethargic, sleepy and even general unhappiness.

To improve your diet, consider:

• Limiting sugar intake – soft drinks, added sugar in tea/coffee

• Reducing salt intake – processed foods already have salt added so no need to add more.

• Limiting fast food and processed food

• Eating more fruit and vegetables

• Eating foods rich in prebiotics and probiotics (eg. Garlic, Bananas, Sour Cream and Yogurt)

• Drinking more water

• Decreasing alcohol consumption

• Following the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating www.eatforhealth.gov.au/guidelines/australian-guide-healthy-eating

ExercisingKeeping active is crucial to improve our mental health as it helps to reduce stress and keep our minds clear and focused. Did you know that exercise also has a significant impact on your mood? As your heart rate increases, your brain chemistry reacts almost immediately to improve your mood, reduce pain, improve memory, help fight viruses and boost feelings of serenity and hopefulness.

Finding something you enjoy doing is important to maintain an exercise routine. While the gyms are closed, going for a walk outside is a great way to get started. Exercising at home is also a great option. It is as easy as utilising your own body weight or some household items.

Something is better than nothing, but 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise a few times per week is a good place to start, so get moving today!

For tips on how to start your exercise journey while at home visit www.exerciseright.com.au/exercise-home

Additional Resources and Help• Lifeline - 13 11 14 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 www.beyondblue.org.au

• MensLine Australia - 1300 78 99 78

• icare - Mental Health First Aid Training - Find out more here

Contact MTC for WHS and RTW advice on 1300 006 826 orwww.motortradescare.com.au/contact-us

orContact MTA NSW for Employment Relations advice on 02 9016 9000 or

www.mtansw.com.au/contact

“ Keeping active is crucial to improve our mental health...

WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY, HUMAN RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS NEWS FOR THE MOTOR TRADES INDUSTRY WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY, HUMAN RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS NEWS FOR THE MOTOR TRADES INDUSTRY

P6 | OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF MOTOR TRADES CARE AND MTA NSW

ISSUE 2 | MAY 2020

Contact MTC for WHS and RTW advice on 1300 006 826 orwww.motortradescare.com.au/contact-us

orContact MTA NSW for Employment Relations advice on 02 9016 9000 or

www.mtansw.com.au/contact

Get in touch today!

MTC

Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 9:00am - 5:00pmPhone: 1300 006 826Email: enquiries@motortradescare.com.au

Suite 1, Level 5157 Gloucester Street

Sydney NSW 2000

MTA NSW

Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 9:00am - 5:00pmPhone: (02) 9016 9000Fax: (02) 9016 9099Email: mail@mtansw.com.au

214 Parramatta Road, Burwood 2134PO Box 715, Burwood NSW 1805 Australia

“ Keeping active is crucial to improve our mental health...