Personal trainers upskilling with mental health courses to help clients

Experts share how workplaces can improve the mental health of staff beyond one-off training sessions and morning teas.

Personal trainer Rose Iazzolino is studying mental health courses so she can better help her clients. Picture: Supplied

WORKPLACES must do more than morning teas and one-off training sessions to look after the mental health of their staff.

With snap COVID-lockdowns and changes to work conditions, including work-from-home arrangements and increased public health requirements, the Black Dog Institute says more is needed to ensure the mental wellbeing of workers.

It says all workers should be trained to recognise the signs of mental ill-health in themselves and others and be able to have “effective’’ conversations on where to get help if needed.

“Creating a mentally healthy workplace requires organisational leaders and business owners to make visible, long-term commitments to mental health in their workplaces,’’ says Institute workplace engagement manager Kate Wright.

“It’s really important that workplaces don’t just do one-off training or an RUOK morning tea and then go back to their normal way of working.’’

One in six Australian workers are suffering from a mental health condition. Picture: iStock

Wright says half of all business managers believe no one within their organisation is affected by mental illness but, in fact, one in six Australian workers suffer a mental health condition at any given point in time.

Another one in six people suffer from symptoms associated with mental illness, such as stress and fatigue, which affects their work performance.

A range of initiatives, including workshops and online training, are available to assist workers recognise the signs of mental ill-health.

Wright says free resources can also help, including Black Dog Institute’s Workplace Mental Health Toolkit and Headgear app, which may reduce rates of new onset depression in workers by up to 50 per cent.

The fitness industry is among those taking mental health training further.

Rose Iazzolino is studying mental health courses so she can better help her PT clients. Picture: Supplied

FIAFitnation has launched a series of short online courses to help fitness professionals identify psychological concerns in their clients.

Head nutrition trainer Sophie Scott says it will help them to offer a well-rounded service to clients.

“We know personal trainers are great at helping us get our bodies in shape but sometimes there are underlying issues with our minds that can put the brakes on results and foster some unhealthy behaviours,’’ Scott says.

“These courses aren’t aimed at replacing psychologists with personal trainers but it is increasingly important for fitness professionals to have some knowledge to identify triggers and barriers so their clients can get help when necessary and also so they can tailor fitness programs to best suit their client’s individual physical and mental needs.’’

Personal trainer Rose Iazzolino saw many clients affected by COVID-lockdowns so decided to incorporate some of the new courses into study she is doing to branch into nutritional coaching.

“It’s important for me to be able to teach people that … it’s OK to struggle,’’ says Iazzolino, who operates BST by Rose.

“Life is full of hiccups.

“I want to help people learn how to reset and get back on track.’’

Originally published as Personal trainers upskilling with mental health courses to help clients