Out of the shadows: Sustainably improving workplace mental health
On Wednesday, 9 June IPAA Queensland was pleased to host a webinar – Out of the shadows: Sustainably improving workplace mental health – in partnership with McKinsey & Company on the issue of workplace mental health. Mental health is a hot topic and for good reason – the impacts of mental ill-health are profound, affecting individuals, organisations, employers, and society.
The impacts of poor mental health on individuals, organisations, and society are profound. In Australia, $17 billion is lost by workplaces every year due to absenteeism and lost productivity from mental health conditions. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought additional challenges. As a result, there is a new imperative for leaders to take a holistic and methodical approach to sustainably improving workplace mental health.
The webinar explored the guiding principles and actions leaders can take to build stronger, more mentally healthy workplaces and how organisations in Queensland are faring on this important issue.
Our speakers included Alistair Carmichael and Fiona Lander from McKinsey, the Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Ivan Frkovic and Sam Popple from the Office of Industrial Relations Psychological Health Unit.
Moderated by McKinsey’s Kimberley Swords, speakers shared their experiences, insights and practical advice for creating mentally healthy workplaces.
Alistair Carmichael, McKinsey and Company
Alistair is an Associate Partner and one of the global leaders of McKinsey’s thinking on workplace mental health. He is a founder and continuing advisor to McKinsey’s internal global mental health program “Mind Matters”.
Alistair is also a leader within our global organisation practice, working with public, social and private sector organisations to unlock performance through culture, talent, leadership and operating model transformation.
Prior to joining McKinsey, Alistair was an employment and industrial relations lawyer, practicing in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Fiona Lander, McKinsey and Company
Fiona Lander is a medical doctor and lawyer, and is a leader within McKinsey and Company’s healthcare strategy consulting team.
Fiona has worked with Government agencies, hospitals, and other healthcare providers and insurers on strategy and transformation topics since 2016.
Prior to joining McKinsey, Fiona worked at Austin Health, Royal Perth Hospital, and with the United Nations. She holds a Masters of Public Health from Harvard University, and a combined MBBS/LLB(Hons) degree from Monash University.
Ivan Frkovic, Queensland Mental Health Commission
Ivan Frkovic is the Queensland Mental Health Commissioner and brings substantial policy, academic and patient-centred experience to the role, having worked extensively within the mental health system in Queensland for more than 20 years.
With a focus on strengthening partnerships and collaboration, he oversees delivery and implementation of the state’s new strategic plan for Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs, Shifting Minds.
With a strong belief in the power of human connection, Ivan is a family man with four grown children, and has a great love of music and culture.
Sam Popple, Psychological Health Unit, Office of Industrial Relations (Queensland)
Sam is a registered general psychologist with training in the field of organisational psychology. Drawing on organisational psychology best practice and theory, she develops interventions to tackle complex organizational issues to improve performance.
Sam leads the Psychological Health team at the Office of Industrial Relations that drives the state’s approach to regulating psychological health and safety at a time of anticipated heightened regulation. This team was also responsible for leading a national collaboration to develop the People at Work digital platform, Australia’s only validated psychosocial risk assessment tool with resources that is free for businesses.
Sam’s previous career as a registered nurse spanned over 20 years including in nursing education and patient safety.
READ our wrap up of the webinar on the IPAA blog below.
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