How to Minimise Work-related Risks to Mental Health

The Relationship Between Work and Mental Health 

The relationship between work and mental health is bidirectional. That is, work can influence a person’s mental health and a person’s mental health can influence their performance at work. Both in positive and negative ways.

In general, good work – that is, work that is free from risks to physical and mental health – is good for mental health. Good work provides structure and a sense of routine; it contributes to meaning and purpose; it provides opportunity for feelings of achievement and accomplishment, and for social inclusion and support, as well as financial stability.

A Negative Work Environment Can Adversely Affect Mental Health

While good work is generally good for mental health, a negative working environment can lead to (or exacerbate) physical and mental health problems. 

Extensive research has found that exposure to adverse working conditions can have a negative impact on employee mental health. These risk factors include (but are not limited to), bullying or harassment, exposure to traumatic content, low social support, and high job demands. These risk factors – known as psychosocial hazards – can lead to increased levels of depression, anxiety, alcohol use, burnout, and suicidal ideation in employees. 

Conversely, we know that preventing or reducing employee’s exposure to psychosocial hazards in the workplace can prevent the development of common mental health problems, and create happy, healthy workers (read more about the benefits of creating a mentally healthy workplace here). 

How to Identify and Control for Psychosocial Hazards at Work

Because of the adverse impact that psychosocial hazards can pose to employee mental health, employers have a responsibility under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) (OHS Act), to take steps to prevent and control for these risk factors.

The proposed Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (Psychological Health) Regulations (Vic) (The Proposed Regulations) will provide clearer guidance to employers on their obligations to better protect workers from mental injury. 

Under the Proposed Regulations, a workplace must:

1. Identify psychosocial hazards
2. Control risk
3. Review control measures. 

Read more about the Proposed Regulations here.  

Learn more about the risk management approach here. 

Use the links below to find guidance on how to manage and control psychosocial hazards in your workplace: 

• Work-related violence
• Sexual harassment
• Workplace bullying
• High (and low) job demands
• Exposure to traumatic events or content
• Low job control
• Poor support
• Poor organisational justice
• Low role clarity
• Poor environmental conditions
• Remote or isolated work
• Poor organisational change management
• Low recognition and reward
• Poor workplace relationships

Additional Resources

WorkSafe Victoria’s WorkWell ToolKit

Worksafe Victoria’s WorkWell Toolkit is a free online resource that supports businesses to promote safe and mentally healthy workplaces. 

The WorkWell Toolkit offers step-by-step advice and easy to use resources which can be specifically tailored to your workplace. The Toolkit is designed to support businesses to address the workplace factors that influence mental health and wellbeing of the workplace, and prevent mental injury.

Topics include: prevention of work-related violence and aggression, fatigue, respect, leadership, change management, role clarity, alcohol and other drugs, work/life balance and many more.

Visit: https://www.workwell.vic.gov.au

The People at Work Survey

If you need help identifying  the work-related risk factors for mental health in your workplace, The People at Work Survey is a free, evidence-based, survey that assesses the most common psychosocial hazards and factors in the workplace. 

The survey is a part of a five-step process that you can use to identify, assess, and control risks to psychological health at work.

Resources are provided to help you:

• Prepare for and roll out the People at Work Survey,
• Interpret the results, and
• Take action based on the survey results.

On completion of the survey you will receive a free report that compares your organisational results against a benchmark of Australian industries.

The People at Work Project was a research collaboration among University of Queensland, The Australian National University, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, WorkCover NSW, WorkSafe Victoria, Comcare, Safe Work Australia, and Beyond Blue.

Visit: https://www.peopleatwork.gov.au/