WELLBEING KATHY CATTON
Crucial role to play Over 200 participants with an interest in creating psychologically safe workplaces joined the HRNZ HR Virtual Summit on Workplace Wellness in September. Kathy Catton reviews the highlights and captures some of the learnings.
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very single day was a challenge for me. I was mentally and physically exhausted. There was so much tension in me, I would shake. I had suicidal ruminations. But then someone said to me, ‘You’ve got a good heart’. These were part of the opening words of Sir John Kirwan’s keynote speech at the HRNZ HR Virtual Summit on Workplace Wellness. It was these words, ‘You’ve got a good heart’, that set JK on a path to saving his own life and turning his attention to being a force for good in the world. Sir John, or ‘JK’, Kiwi legend, ex All Black and Founder of Mentemia, started the Virtual Summit by sharing his own journey to mental health. “At first, I did a lot for my physical health – taking anti-depressants, being careful what I ate and getting massages, for example,” he said. “But I wasn’t looking after my brain. It was my doctor, Dr Louise
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Armstrong, who gave me clarity. Just as I would treat a tight hamstring with physio, I needed to treat my brain with specific actions.”
Role of HR
It is becoming clear that HR is wellplaced to drive positive mental health in the workforce. HR needs to be at the forefront of supporting its people. But where to start? That is often where HR professionals get stuck, when wanting to introduce a wellbeing strategy to their workplace at the same time as looking after themselves. JK pointed out that prevention is essential to setting up a mental health policy with three main areas of focus: • empowering individuals • lifting leaders (to put wellbeing on their agenda) • optimising the environment.
As JK quoted, “It’s no use fixing the fish if the water is toxic,” meaning leadership needs to be on board with the business case for wellbeing. We know that suicide rates in New Zealand are climbing, and workplace productivity is declining due to stressed out, anxious employees. And we also know that physical health is not the only factor contributing to a happy, engaged workforce.
Engaging speakers The practical application regarding employer obligations was discussed by Elise O’Halloran, solicitor from Tavendale and Partners. She spoke about the requirements of employers in providing psychologically safe workplaces and the necessity of solutions, not just the “ambulance at the bottom of the cliff”.
