Anxiety and psychological distress are on the rise as our workforce adapts to the COVID-19 pandemic. More so than ever now is a time for leaders to shine through to guide and support their teams through these challenging times. Some leaders more so than others are better equipped to manage their staff virtually, but as most organisations don’t educate leaders on this area, many will struggle to adapt and find their feet in this new world.
Leadership during a pandemic is new and untested, where we are learning on the fly what does and does not work to manage staff in the virtual world. Human Psyhcology have shared with us essential advice for managers and team leaders in helping their team adapt. This includes;
You can read and download the full tip sheet here.
We know how important it is to care for the mental health of your team and colleagues during challenging times, however we cannot understate the importance of caring for the mental wellbeing of family members. With social isolation, families, whether living in the same household, or split over distance undergo significant stress and challenges in adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our friends at Human Psychology have shared with us some of the best advice for parents and families to cope with the new stresses of recent times.
There is a common misconception that talking with children and young people about a topic such as COVID-19 may increase anxiety. However, research suggests it may have the opposite effect. For children not having information is scary and many children will fill in the blanks with their own imagination-often imagining something far worse than the truth. Older children may take to the internet and social media for their answers, which can sometimes become overwhelming or misleading.
Download the full Parent Tip Sheet here
Times are very uncertain at the moment and many people are being asked to make lifestyle changes to help society work through COVID-19. For many of us, these changes include working from home and restricting the amount of time we spend socially interacting.
Social isolation can pose various challenges for our mental health. As social beings, we need social interaction and connectedness. Spending time isolated by ourselves limits the positive distractions available to us to dilute the amount of time we might stress over COVID-19.
Download the full Tip Sheet here, to find advice, ideas and inspiration for coping with Home Isolation
The Australian Mental Health Commission has launched a new initiative in response to the COVID-19 situation, as Australians are impacted by this challenging and unprecedented time. The #InThisTogether initiative is a national conversation that will help you access and share practical tips on how to support the mental health and wellbeing of yourself, family and co-workers. To join in this national conversation you can follow the hashtag #InThisTogether across social media, along with video segments providing advice and tips.
The Mental Health Commission website offers a range of further support materials and information, as well as social media tiles to help you and your department take part in the conversation.
We encourage you to check in with yourself and others during this challenging time, and seek support when you need it. If you need to talk, these free support lines are here to listen 24/7:
Lifeline 13 11 14
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
Or visit www.headtohealth.gov.au the digital mental health portal for more resources and support options.