Mental health is a key component of overall health and well-being (WHO 2021). In any year in Australia, an estimated 1 in 5 people aged 16–85 will experience a mental health disorder (ABS 2022).

And what we are experiencing now with the pressures and the cost of living, many people are struggling.

Sadly, mental health disorders are on the rise and for many, mental health services are out of reach or the waitlists are incredibly long.

Current statistics of people in Australia experiencing stress and anxiety are a whopping 44% - that's over 8.6 million people, between the ages of 16 - 85 years.

When you think of the impact that mental health has on a person's family life, social life and career, the results can be staggering.

Any kind of psychological distress, be it stress, anxiety or depression, affects one's ability to function normally.

A mental illness refers to a clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotional regulation, or behaviour, usually associated with distress or impairment in important areas of functioning (WHO 2022).

Without the right support for your team and your business, you might find your business suffers too.

What are the signs of psychological distress at work?

• Less productivity
• Poor concentration and memory recall
• Reduced motivation and low energy levels
• Procrastinating
• Communication issues
• Increased absenteeism from work (more sick days)
• Withdrawn, isolated, unable to participate as a team player
• Not being able to move forward/further training

A person who is suffering from any kind of psychological distress may feel:

• Overwhelmed
• Overworked
• Stressed, anxious, depressed
• Burnt out
• Fearful - nervous system is always on alert
• Not feeling good enough to perform at their job
• Constantly worried about their work and performance
• Taking on too much, not knowing how to say no
• Not coping with work/office life/ home life/ social life
• Avoidant of tasks and communication
• and so much more

There are ways though, to help your staff and your organisation with their mental health and wellbeing.

With the Mindful Fridays program, your staff will receive short and powerful 45-minute sessions each week for 8 weeks, learning tools and techniques to manage their mental health and well-being, and to holistically integrate these tools and techniques into their working life.

This will allow for:

• improved coping skills
• enhanced communication skills
• increased productivity
• more behavioural flexibility
• stronger sense of self and awareness
• developing improved problem-solving and decision-making skills
• more team cohesiveness and improved workplace culture
• a higher quality of work/life balance
• expanded creativity and creating positive impacts within your organisation

This 8-week program is designed to engage your staff in using daily strategies to reduce stress and anxiety, calm the nervous system and have greater well-being.

Once a week, for 8 weeks, on a Friday lunchtime-ish 45-minute session, your staff will engage in a series of "hypnotic-meditation" and coaching sessions that will have them feeling refreshed and reinvigorated to end their week on a high note, with valuable new tools under their belts.