Mental health is one of the largest health issues in Australia after heart disease and cancer, making
mental health awareness a priority during WorkSafe Tasmania Month.
Statistics reveal around 45 per cent of Australians between the ages of 16 and 85 will experience a
mental illness at some point in their life, while one in five Australian adults will experience a mental
illness in any given year.
Held as a part of WorkSafe Tasmania Month 2014, Identifying and supporting mental health and
wellbeing issues in the workplace is a free information session aimed at arming Tasmanian workers
with the knowledge and tools needed to address mental health problems at work.
Hosting the free information session is mental health advocate and CEO of OzHelp Tasmania, Doug
Vautier.
“Preliminary research shows Australian businesses lose over $6.5 billion each year by failing to
provide early intervention or treatment to employees with mental health conditions, with a total of
3.2 days per worker lost each year through workplace stress,” Mr Vautier said.
“Stress related workers’ compensation claims have doubled in recent years with a survey of 5000
workers indicating that 25 per cent took time off each year for stress related reasons.
“When you consider the health risks and financial costs involved, these statistics highlight how
mental health is just as important as physical health, and with the right knowledge and tools,
workplaces can prevent and appropriately aid mental health problems effectively.”
Lucinda Bray, Font
