Mental Health in the Workplace: Building Resilient Outdoor Teams

Mental health challenges cost Australian businesses a staggering $11-12 billion annually through reduced productivity, absenteeism, and compensation claims. This sobering reality formed the backdrop of our latest Connect and Share forum, where we unpacked crucial workplace mental health strategies following a significant meeting with the Honourable Rose Jackson, NSW Minister for Mental Health.

We revealed a comprehensive seven-point plan developed by Lifeline and Business Western Sydney that offers outdoor industry employers practical guidance for supporting mental wellbeing. The plan emphasises leadership modelling healthy behaviours, designing workspaces to minimise harm, enhancing personal resilience, promoting help-seeking behaviour, supporting recovery from life events, and reducing mental health stigma. As outdoor professionals who regularly promote the mental health benefits of nature connection to our participants, we must ask ourselves: are we practicing what we preach in our own workplaces?

The forum highlighted several free resources available to all businesses regardless of location or size. Service NSW provides mental health tools including workplace pulse checks, conversation guides, and implementation frameworks. Beyond Blue offers free, confidential coaching sessions specifically designed for small business owners facing the unique stresses of entrepreneurship. The statistics show businesses that invest in mental health experience lower staff turnover rates, faster recovery times, and positive flow-on effects to employees' lives outside work.

Looking ahead, we shared exciting details about the upcoming Outdoor Industry Summit (July 8-11 in Canberra), featuring sessions on inclusion, AI applications, productivity enhancement, safe work discussions, interpretation skills, workforce programs, and significant changes to the Duke of Edinburgh program. Tickets are available now with member discounts.

Take advantage of these resources, implement systematic approaches to mental health support, and create workplace cultures where wellbeing is prioritised. Your team's mental health isn't just a compliance requirement—it's essential to your organisation's sustainability and success in the outdoor industry.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction and Podcast Milestones
• 1:28 Member Resources and Portal Access
• 3:16 Cultural Awareness Program Launch
• 4:38 Leadership Programs and Industry Meetings
• 9:45 Upcoming Events and Professional Development
• 14:22 Outdoor Industry Summit Preview
• 20:13 Mental Health in the Workplace
• 23:40 Seven-Point Mental Health Plan
• 24:44 Free Mental Health Resources