When it comes to improving workplace mental health, the ASK acronym is gold. Simple, yet powerful, it provides the springboard to having a conversation and can make a genuine difference to workforce wellbeing.

ASK is a top favourite with Education Unlimited Founder Tina Rose, and is one of the many tools she equips learners with when they complete the GoodYarn Mental Wellbeing Workplace Programme - a three-hour workshop designed to help people talk about mental health at work.

“Nurturing employee mental health and providing a safe and healthy workplace is an important part of running a business and the GoodYarn workshop is an excellent first step,” says Tina. “It equips people with the tools to have valuable conversations with their workmates, and is a simple way to empower them to be part of the solution, not the problem.”

Based on the Māori health model Te Whare Tapa Whā, the workshop deepens learners’ understanding of the four cornerstones of Māori health – that’s taha hinengaro (mental health), taha whānau (extended family health), taha wairua (spiritual health) and taha tinana (physical health). Participants learn how to manage their mental health, how to have conversations about it, and where to get support, as well as things that influence mental health, common signs of mental health problems, suicide prevention and self-care.

“GoodYarn workshops give people the skills they need to be the first line of support with their colleagues. We don’t all need to be psychologists; we just need to know how to have an effective conversation and then direct people to further help if needed.”

Since becoming an accredited partner provider with GoodYarn Programmes Trust in 2019, Education Unlimited has delivered the training to numerous organisations across the country, from REINZ (Real Estate Institute of NZ) and Competenz/MSD through to BCITO, Cassidy Construction, Metro Glass and Viridian Glass. The programme is available either as a standalone ‘taster’ workshop or embedded into bigger workplace training programmes, and feedback from both the employers and the course attendees has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Participants say they are now much more aware of the signs and symptoms of mental illnesses and have much more confidence to start a conversation with someone they might be worried about.”

This week - Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) - is an opportune time for organisations to take stock of the wellbeing of their workforce. What steps are you taking to nurture mental health in your workplace? What sort of conversations are you having with your employees around this? What are you doing to make it easier for staff to talk about their mental health, and voice their concerns about others?

If you’re ready to prioritise workplace mental health head to https://educationunlimited.co.nz/programmes/goodyarn-mental-wellbeing

or visit https://www.goodyarn.org/