Dr Larissa Bartlett’s mental health study to lead to support workers and employers

For many Tasmanians workplaces can be stressful. Two Tasmanian academics want workers to help them with a groundbreaking study. Read why.

Doctor Larissa Bartlett and Professor Angela Martin of Menzies Institute for Medical Research are currently doing the largest ever survey of Tasmanian workers in relation to mental health. Picture: Michelle Kilpatrick

Tasmanians are being urged to take part in the largest ever study of mental health in the workplace.

Professor Angela Martin and Dr Larissa Bartlett of the Menzies Institute for Medical Research are conducting a statewide survey of employers and workers as part of Working Well, a new workplace mental health study.

Dr Bartlett said the survey was in response to the rising number and cost of stress-related workers’ compensation claims and would “benchmark how equipped employers feel they are for looking after the mental health of their workers”.

“There has been a strong history of stigma associated with poor mental health,” she said.

“While there is growing recognition that stress is bad for us, and there should be something that can be done to protect us from the negative effects of stressful work, there is still a long way to go, in terms of knowing how to have these conversations and what actions can be taken.

“That’s why we are doing this important work.”

While work can be good for people’s mental health because it gives people opportunities to learn and a sense of purpose and belonging, Dr Bartlett said it also could be stressful.

“Constant or unrelieved stress is a major risk factor for mental health problems like anxiety, depression, substance use and burnout.

“Stress and these related mental health problems limit our ability to be our best selves, in terms of our work and our personal lives.

“For example it is common to see higher rates of sick days (absenteeism) and unproductive days (presenteeism), as well as dysfunctional work and family relationships among stressed workers.”

Doctor Larissa Bartlett. Picture: Michelle Kilpatrick

Dr Bartlett said national health and safety laws were updated in 2022 requiring employers to manage psychosocial risks and hazards which can include job demands, low job control, poor support, lack of role clarity and workplace bullying or harassment.

“The results will guide future government policy and practice, which will help protect us, our colleagues and families, and future generations of working Tasmanians from preventable workplace injury,” she said.

“The Working Well benchmark will help WorkSafe Tasmania track gaps in capability and to provide the support needed to help Tasmanian workplaces better support the mental health of their employees.”

She said a similar benchmarking study run by SafeWork NSW in 2017, showed there was “widespread recognition that managers are ‘out of their depth’ when it comes to identifying risks and dealing with mental health issues in the workplace”.

The survey closes at the end of March and the researchers are keen to hear from people working in real estate, retail, transport, agriculture, forestry, electricity, water and waste, tourism, manufacturing and mining.

The study, an initiative of WorkSafe Tasmania and funded by WorkCover Tasmania, will guide Tasmania’s first Workplace Mental Health Framework expected to be launched early next year. The survey is at www.workingwelltas.com.au