Will my business survive? Will I still have a job? How much longer can I hang on for? These are just a few of the questions that have been taking their toll on people over the last three years, and according to a recent Hays Barometer Report, less than half of professionals now rate their workplace mental health as positive (down 21% since prior to the outbreak).

The Mental Health Foundation reports that employee mental health was one of the three biggest workplace wellbeing challenges for 2021, with 80.7% of those surveyed placing it in their top three, up from 74% in 2020. Sadly, there’s been little improvement since 2021, and workplace mental health is still a far cry from where it ought to be.

Education Unlimited Director Tina Rose says that’s why supporting employee wellbeing and nurturing workplace mental health needs to be a top priority for every organisation. It’s also why Education Unlimited is passionate about delivering the GoodYarn Mental Wellbeing Workplace Programme – a two to two-and-a-half hour workshop that makes it easier for people to talk about mental health at work.

“Covid-19 has made life so much more challenging for a lot of people and this ongoing uncertainty is really taking its toll,” Tina explains. “This GoodYarn programme has been having a powerful positive impact on learners, and we are proud to be delivering it.”

According to GoodYarn, the first step in addressing mental health in the workplace is being able to talk about it – and that’s exactly what this workshop teaches people to do. Learners come away with a greater understanding of how to manage their mental health, how to have conversations about it, and where to get support. It also covers things that influence our mental health, common signs of mental health problems, suicide prevention and self-care.

Based on the Māori health model Te Whare Tapa Whā, participants will deepen their understanding of the four cornerstones (or sides) of Māori health. This includes taha hinengaro (mental health), taha whānau (extended family health), taha wairua (spiritual health) and taha tinana (physical health). To be truly healthy, each of these cornerstones needs strong foundations.

The programme has been welcomed by business owners and employees alike. Why? It’s a quick, simple and powerful way to make a genuine difference to workforce wellbeing.

Education Unlimited recently delivered the GoodYarn Mental Wellbeing Workplace Programme to the team at REINZ (the Real Estate Institute of NZ), an organisation whose members have seen some dramatic changes in their sector over the past 12 months.

“Our Salespeople have had their markets do a 360 regarding sales numbers and activity,” says REINZ Head of Education Chris Campbell. “Our team want to keep the focus and needs of our members and the broader industry sectors mentally healthy and resilient in these challenging times.  To continue to provide the level of service and membership engagement we need to, we fill our health toolbox with products such as GoodYarn.”

The workshop was a huge hit – not only did 100% of REINZ attendees describe it as “engaging and interesting”, but they all also improved their awareness of the signs and symptoms of common mental illnesses, and gained confidence to start a conversation with someone they might be concerned about.

Adds Chris, “The team felt inspired by the open and sometimes difficult discussions in the delivery of this workshop; there is a general feeling that if these difficult discussions are to be had, this course has provided some essential guidance.  This course is excellent for those less confident dealing with or having these conversations. The overall feedback has been fantastic.”

Tina believes the workshop should be vital for every New Zealand workplace.

“We can either deliver this workshop or organisations can buy a license and get their own people trained to deliver it inhouse. Either way this mental health awareness workshop should become a ‘have to have’ not a ‘nice to do’ in workplaces,” she says.

But for all those yet to sign up, you don’t need to wait until the course starts to improve your wellbeing. Try these five simple strategies and you’ll immediately start reaping the benefits!

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The Mental Health Foundation’s five ways to wellbeing:

- Whakawhanaunga – CONNECT

- Me Ako Tonu – KEEP LEARNING

- Me Kori Tonu – BE ACTIVE

- Me Aro Tonu – TAKE NOTICE

- Tukua - GIVE

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