A new mental health toolkit launched today by Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is aimed at helping businesses lift productivity by encouraging better workplace mental health practices.
“Poor mental health in the workplace can lead to decreased productivity and high absenteeism rates,” Doocey said.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, one in five New Zealand workers has experienced bullying in the past year. The organisation also estimates that workplace bullying costs businesses around $1.34 billion annually, driven by factors including absenteeism, reduced productivity, staff turnover, investigations, and formal complaints.
Doocey said that by improving mental health in the workplace, productivity could rise by around 6 to 10%.
“There is strong economic evidence for investing in better mental health in the workplace, with returns of around $5 for every $1 invested into initiatives such as Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP).”
“But for some workplaces, cost is a barrier to accessing EAP. That is why we have worked with businesses to develop the free toolkit, aimed particularly at small and medium-sized businesses, helping to reduce those barriers.”
The toolkit provides a range of resources, including free counselling via the 1737 helpline, workplace wellbeing guidance for employers, digital mental health supports such as the Groove app, and details on accessing free in-person support through the Access and Choice programme.
“Today’s launch of the Business Mental Health Toolkit is part of the government’s mental health plan to deliver faster access to support, more frontline workers, and a better crisis response.”