LivingWorks Australia’s Post

Dr. Michelle McQuaid (MAPP) and her team at The Wellbeing Lab believe that we can sometimes focus too much on thriving and flourishing, and that we should equally make space for functioning effectively and growing from struggle.   At our Sydney conference in October, Dr McQuaid delved into six surprising wellbeing truths from her research. She emphasised the need to acknowledge struggle as a natural part of the wellbeing spectrum. How can we achieve this? Dr. McQuaid suggested practical ideas such as incorporating self-compassion tools and wellbeing buddies, encouraging role modelling to empower students to discuss their challenges openly, and teaching them that struggle is a normal and healthy aspect of personal growth.   How do you normalise struggle in your school or institution? #schoolwellbeing #positiveeducation #wellbeingeducation

What sets Headspace’s EAP replacement apart from traditional, underutilized employee assistance programs: 🧡 We drive engagement with a beloved brand. Our easy-to-access care and approachable communication tools make our product more easily approachable.  ✅ We provide evidence-based care. Our data-driven approach delivers high-quality, meaningful care for members with needs ranging from minimal to more intensive and complex.  ☔️ We offer support for social determinants of health. We identify when a member’s most basic needs are not met and point them to real-time support, setting them up for success on their mental health journey. Learn more about Headspace’s EAP replacement and how it can make a difference for your organization:

Promoting “Well-being” teams improves productivity, team morale, and staff rentention. Making people happy to come to work. Its also acknowledging that its ok not to be ok in a psychologically safe workplace so people feel validated, heard, and promoting trust. #wellbeing #teams #empathy #leadership

My latest article 'Building blocks of belief: A guide to fostering self-esteem' is featured in The Wellbeing Hub. This article breaks down 3 key steps to help you build a strong sense of self and cultivate positive self-esteem #mentalhealth #wellbeing #selfesteem

Back to work after the long weekend here in the UK - I hope you've had some time to rest & recharge. I've come back to some lovely feedback from a supervisee. For me, supervision is a partnership; learning, growth & development take place in both directions. Supervision I provide through Connect, Reflect, grow is person-centred, solution focussed & restorative. 🌱 #supervision #clinicalsupervision #wellbeing #employeewellbeing #mentalhealth #mentalhealthprofessionals #occupationaltherapy #studentservices #highereducation

Driving up to Goulburn today, the beautiful views and sunny skies gave me a moment to reflect. I'm here to offer wellbeing consultancy support for a principal's conference through the Department of Education—one of my passions alongside community development and the arts, the three pillars of my work. Today, I gave a short speech at the conference, emphasizing the importance of leading by example in self-care and wellbeing. In the busy world of education, where teachers and leaders focus on students, staff often feel overwhelmed. Processing grief, trauma, and loss while holding space for others is tough. It's even harder without a chance to slow down and recognize the impact on our body, mind, and heart. Holding space for people can be challenging but deeply rewarding. We often talk about wellbeing, but living it daily in complex environments is tricky. Sometimes we lack time, other times the skills, or simply the habit of reaching out. We're good at supporting others but struggle to ask for help ourselves. Strategies for wellbeing are vital, but so is voicing our emotions. It’s a moment-to-moment practice in the here and now. The anxious brain easily slips into fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. Slowing down, listening, and deep empathy is not a small task. #Wellbeing #SelfCare #Education #Leadership #MentalHealth #Empathy #CommunitySupport #TraumaInformed #Mindfulness #TeacherWellbeing #PrincipalConference

The counseling department's Parent U on wellness provided an enlightening perspective on what it truly means to live a fulfilled life. It's more than just freedom from illness; it's about achieving an optimal state of being across all facets of our existence. The counseling team explained that wellness is a proactive pursuit, involving a balanced focus on the seven crucial dimensions: 🌄 Environmental 👔 Occupational 🤝 Social 😌 Emotional 🏋️♂️ Physical 🧠 Intellectual ✝ Spiritual To learn more, click here: https://lnkd.in/edJnBTRk

"The rail industry is required to report health and safety accidents of employees at or related to work to their board. Why is it that other industries, such as law do not follow this type of reporting, especially for mental health incidents?" This was one of the observations shared by Richard Martin at last week's event for law firms, 'Supporting your workforce's mental health challenges.' Richard kindly gave up his time to be a speaker at the event, along with Elif, Wolfgang, Paul, Louisa, and James. The feedback we have received following the event has been incredible. I wanted to share with my network some of the key points that emerged from the event. Richard: 'We can't stop employees from working 12+ hour days, but what support are we giving them when they choose to do this? If you were to drive your car down the motorway at 70mph, the car and you would be safe to do so. However, if you then want to try and drive that car at 250mph like an F1 driver, you won't be safe. This is why Lewis Hamilton is provided with a car safe enough to drive at these speeds, along with safe clothing and training to drive under high-speed conditions.' Louisa: 'Clients are exploring different ways to provide mental health support services. There is a need to simplify mental health support for employees, particularly working parents. The importance of storytelling and education in mental health has become paramount. As JAAQ has seen through Bupa, the value it brings for senior leaders to share real-life stories on its platform has driven engagement.' Elif: 'We are witnessing a shift towards prevention-oriented interventions. Line managers need to be trained to prevent workload overload and help younger employees manage their work. Understanding your own workforce's health risks and implementing strategies tailored to your workforce demographics is key.' At the event we provided tangible solutions that our attendees could focus on at their own firms, and we promised to host a follow-up event in the next 6 months to share what is working well. We look forward to seeing you all at the next event. Mindful Business Charter Bupa Mercer JAAQ at Work

7 Reasons I offer Peer Support Coaching to people experiencing challenges within their professional or personal lives. 1. A 2023 Study by AXA shows that #poormindhealth costs the UK Economy £102 BILLION last year. 2. NHS England 2023 Evidence Review found the financial benefits of employing Peer Support Workers exceeded the costs, in some cases by a substantial margin. 3. This personalised, holistic support focuses on wellbeing and understanding lived experience, rather than clinical interventions. 4. I have lived experience which allows me to create an encouraging, inspiring and safe space which has been proven to create better outcomes for people. 5. I have experienced the benefits of peer support coaching first hand therefore am passionate about the power it holds. 6. In addition to my lived experience of mental health recovery, I have an HR and Coaching background, as well as holistic wellness credentials. 7. I am passionate that prevention and to keep valued employees; supporting them through their challenges is far better than leaving it too late. #mentalhealthawareness

The big holiday has now come to an end and all New Zealanders are back to work that is natural and normal to find challenging return to work. Mental Health Foundation CE Shaun Robinson says that new year should be taken as an opportunity to work actively ensuring coming to work is an enjoyable and supportive experience for all. The Foundation has a free "Five Ways to Wellbeing" toolkit resource which helps make it easier for employees to return to work, and for employees to create better work environments. The five steps are: connect, give, take notice, be active and keep learning.  It is common to feel low getting back to work after holidays but it is uncommon if that continues. Those who continue to feel this way for more than two weeks for no apparent reason should speak to a trained counsellor or GP.  #mentalhealthintheworkplace #mentalhealthsupport #employeewellbeing #wellness #nzjobs #workplacewellbeing #newzealandjobs #newzealandlife #mensmentalhealth #womenswellness