An update from Organisational Wellbeing Manager, Suzanne Leckie

Mental health month starts today and after the challenging year we’ve all had I wanted to take some time to highlight the importance of talking about mental health.

An update from Organisational Wellbeing Manager, Suzanne Leckie

This Photo was taken prior COVID-19 restrictions

We all have mental health, just like we all have physical health. We all have good days, bad days and sometimes days where things might seem too much.

One in five Australians will experience a mental illness in any year and half of us will experience a mental illness in our lifetime. Many people with a mental illness do not access any support or treatment.

I want to share these statistics to normalise mental health and mental illness. To let you know that it’s okay not be to be okay, but you do not have to go through it alone. There is help and support available.

There are a number of different activities available throughout the month.

CFA has invited Smiling Mind back to do another webinar open to all members on ‘Mindful relationships’ on Monday 12 October 1pm-2pm.

Workshop 2: Mindful Relationships

  • Understanding the complexity of relationships and interpersonal challenges and opportunities presented by Covid-19
  • Recognising relationships (including work relationships) as central to wellbeing
  • Building Positive Relationships: Active Constructive Responding
  • Navigating isolation: Connecting with ourselves and others through this challenging time
  • Cultivating meaning and purpose
  • Mindful Mindsets: Compassion and Acceptance
  • Mindful communication and listening

You can join the Zoom webinar on Monday 12 October 1pm -2pm by clicking here.

Mental Health Foundation Australia (MHFA) is hosting webinars each day during the month.

There are heaps of great topics and some more relevant for CFA members, including Farmers Mental Health on 8 October. You can view the full list of events on the MHFA website.

I would also like to highlight WorkSafe’s Health and Safety Month ‘Navigating through COVID-19’ running from 6 October to 27 October 2020.

With more than a dozen free webinars and online sessions featuring guest speakers and industry experts covering topics like managing mental health through the pandemic, working remotely, leadership, fatigue, supporting injured workers and the impact on premiums.

All sessions will be interactive with presenters ready to answer your questions.

Some of the sessions include;

  • Surviving COVID-19 – a WorkSafe perspective
  • Leading the way: Industries innovating workplace mental health prevention
  • COVID-19 and Healthcare
  • Managing the risk of COVID-19; what does an inspector look for?
  • How the Building and Construction industry is dealing with COVID-19
  • How does COVID-19 impact your workcover premium

/CFA News Release. View in full here.