Leading national experts in mental health will present today a one-day workshop, Mental Health in the Workplace, at Menzies Research Institute Tasmania.

Leading national experts in mental health will present today a one-day workshop, Mental Health in the Workplace, at Menzies Research Institute Tasmania.

The workshop will look at why good employee mental health is an essential contributor to a business's bottom line, why it's so important to tackle this issue now and the development of strategies to assist building mental health capacity in our workforce.

Dr Kristy Sanderson from Menzies Research Institute Tasmania said the workshop will also present up-to-date research findings on key challenges and potential interventions in the field of mental health in the workplace from today through to 2030.

"The right type of work environment can buffer poor mental health, promote physical health, and increase business prosperity. But creating a healthy workplace can present challenges in the face of changing organisational priorities. The workshop will present the research evidence to support what can be done now, and what we need to be planning to do to improve workplace mental health over the coming years," Dr Sanderson said.

Keynote speakers include Dr Lyndall Strazdins from Australian National University and Associate Professor Tony LaMontagne from the University of Melbourne.

Dr Lyndall Strazdins will present at 11am on the topic: Work, family and mental health: connecting the dots and Associate Professor Tony LaMontagne, will present at 12 noon on: Job stress reduction and workplace mental health promotion: developing best practice.

Cameron Blight, an Advisor with the new WorkCover Health and Wellbeing Advisory Service, will show attendees how to develop a practical framework for improving employee health and wellbeing.

"WorkCover Tasmania statistics show that 475 injuries reported by Tasmanian workers in 2010 were caused by mental stress, representing five per cent of all injuries reported, and an increase of 99 injuries on the previous year," Mr Blight said.

"Creating a healthier workplace can result in benefits such as increased staff morale, productivity, staff retention and reduced absenteeism.

"Physical activity, healthy nutritional choices and healthy lifestyle habits are a few of the major factors in preventing a number of chronic diseases and provide a range of economic, environmental, physical, social and mental health benefits."

The workshop is an initiative of the Partnering Healthy@Work Project which brings together researchers at Menzies and the University of Tasmania with State Government partners. Sponsored by the WorkSafe Tasmania campaign it will bring together 145 practitioners, researchers, students and interested individuals to learn from leading thinkers.

Information Released by:

Fiona Horwood, Communications Manager

Phone: 6226 7751 Mobile: 0409 357 384

Email: Fiona.Horwood@menzies.utas.edu.au

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