University of Auckland - there’s no health without mental health
Proactively supporting staff is one thing the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Arts knows all about, as they’ve made 2011 the year to tackle mental resilience as part of their health and wellbeing programme.
Olivia Monk, HR Advisor in the Faculty of Arts, says, “The university has a general focus on wellbeing, which is – ‘optimising energy to maintain enjoyment and enthusiasm for work and life’.
“We want to provide extra information and learning opportunities because we know that healthy and well employees can only be positive for the Faculty.”
Initially Gaynor van Beurden, Group Manager and the Faculty’s Health and Wellness Coordinator, worked with Working Well to develop seven mental health seminar topics.
Then Olivia and another colleague, Sabine Hillebrandt, Coordinator for the School of European Languages and Literatures, decided on the five they thought would be most relevant and valuable to staff. Both Olivia and Sabine sit on the Faculty’s Health and Safety Committee.
The five seminars they have chosen to spread out through the year focus on the following aspects of mental health:
- How to maintain a good life balance
- Work, family and home in today’s environment
- Building Capacity by Working Smarter
- Food, mood and physical activity
- Depression and anxiety
By spacing the seminars out so there is six to eight weeks between them, employees have time to think about what they have learnt and put some of the ideas and exercises into practice.
“The information in the seminars is communicated in a way which suits the audience,” says Olivia. “And trainer Anna McNaughton gives people time to ask themselves important questions and jot the answers down”.
“There was a good question about ‘what have you made time for yourself this week, what have you said no to and what have you planned for yourself next week?’”
Feedback to date has been very positive. “Participants have enjoyed having the time to think about how best to look after themselves,” says Olivia. “It’s a chance to plan for positive work/life balance, so that you’re not swallowed up by the ‘rat race’.”
Some employees have gone back to their departments and shared what they have learnt. “I think when people share their work/life struggles with others and talk through them,” Olivia says, “It means that others can be more supportive, and it creates a more supportive working environment.”
The Arts Faculty’s Health and Safety Committee see the seminar series as a way of building positive relationships with employees and to show they care.
“This is one way for us to give back, to show that people’s wellbeing is important to us and we don’t think that you should be here for 10-12 hours a day,” Olivia says.
As well as the positive step that the Arts Faculty has taken regarding mental health in 2011, they have also run other health seminars and initiatives on topics such as food and exercise. “We often use the Push/Play website to give us ideas around how to keep staff active over the winter months.”
For more information
To find out more about these Working Well one-hour lecture-style presentations, or to schedule a presentation for your next training session, annual or quarterly conference, retreat, staff, union or association meeting, lunch and learn, or power breakfast - contact Amanda Bradley
Remember you can join the Working Well Online Community for just $495.00 (excl GST) annually. Working Well’s online community members gain access to a secure login area with a number of features and benefits as well as 15% discount on workplace training packages, conferences and public workshops!
