{"id":27036,"date":"2022-09-07T05:54:01","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T05:54:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/?p=27036"},"modified":"2022-09-08T01:19:17","modified_gmt":"2022-09-08T01:19:17","slug":"tips-for-supporting-a-colleague-on-ruokday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/cospedia\/tips-for-supporting-a-colleague-on-ruokday","title":{"rendered":"Tips for Supporting a Colleague who Answers \u201cNo\u201d on RUOK Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"27036\" class=\"elementor elementor-27036\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b43fd34 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b43fd34\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-66c9a5e\" data-id=\"66c9a5e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b406f9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1b406f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>According to a survey conducted by Australian Unions, mental health is the fastest growing threat to employees&#8217; health and safety in the workplace. 4 out of 10 Australian workers who reported poor mental health in the previous 12 months found it difficult to initiate a conversation at their workplace as they believe they need an expert to have those personal conversations.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-06658e7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"06658e7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e76dc38\" data-id=\"e76dc38\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8fb3b6d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8fb3b6d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>With the pressures of everyday life, such as health, financial pressures, workload, cost of living, and personal issues, we are seeing an increase in the level of anxiety and stress. Even though mental health conditions are prevalent in the Australian population, it is unfortunate that people living with them may still be stigmatised. For some people, it can be frightening to open up about their mental health to others as they\u2019re unsure how they will react.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a02ef04 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a02ef04\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-02b1055\" data-id=\"02b1055\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41be35c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"41be35c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Identifying and assisting those struggling with their mental health is a significant challenge for many businesses. It is something that can\u2019t be easily recognised, and the topic must be handled with care. To help your employees in dealing with stress, and make them feel safe and heard at work, it\u2019s best to be direct and regularly check in and ask if they\u2019re ok. This simple question can open the door for them to talk about what&#8217;s going on and what they might be struggling with.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-24193ca elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"24193ca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>As a manager, colleague, or friend, if you notice that something isn&#8217;t quite right with someone you know &#8211; whether it&#8217;s something going on in their life or a change in behaviour &#8211; trust your instincts. Simply asking them if they are okay shows that you care and allows them to talk about what is bothering them. Ask them, &#8220;Are you OK?&#8221; If the answer is \u201cNo\u201d don\u2019t panic, you might feel awkward or believe that you are insufficiently qualified to provide proper guidance. However, you don&#8217;t have to be an expert to do it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62f7d30 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"62f7d30\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5><strong>Here are some tips that will guide you through how to respond appropriately and safely to anyone who says they\u2019re not OK.<\/strong><\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0ba51af elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0ba51af\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-193fe00\" data-id=\"193fe00\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b19273 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8b19273\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><h6><strong>Prepare Yourself for the Conversation<\/strong><\/h6><\/li><\/ul><p>It&#8217;s fine if you don&#8217;t know where to start. Simply be supportive and caring, just as you would for a friend. Take some time out of your schedule to talk with them at their desk or invite them for a cup of coffee during work or after hours. Don\u2019t force your colleague to reveal what\u2019s going on with them, simply let them know that you\u2019ve noticed that they seem different. They may not want to discuss the issue when you first bring it up, but by letting them know you&#8217;re there, you&#8217;ve planted the seed for future conversation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-59cec34 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"59cec34\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><h6><strong>Listen Carefully<\/strong><\/h6><\/li><\/ul><p>Be prepared to be in a good headspace and be ready to listen to their concerns, without interrupting, jumping to a conclusion, or inserting your own experiences. Try to sit patiently and be conscious of your body language to allow the person to fully express their emotions. If they get emotional or angry, try not to take it personally and explain that you are simply concerned and want to help.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d57b163 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d57b163\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><h6><strong>Offer Assistance<\/strong><\/h6><\/li><\/ul><p>Once they\u2019ve opened up, encourage them to access support or to do something that might lighten the load. Let them know that you respect their privacy and ask them if there\u2019s anything you can do to help them and recommend any professional services that you believe would be beneficial to them. Always remember many people suffering from mental illnesses find the process of seeking mental health support to be overwhelming. Suggest some options for action that can include talking to a loved one, a trusted friend, their doctor, or an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d651ce9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d651ce9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><h6><strong>Follow up<\/strong><\/h6><\/li><\/ul><p>It is a good idea to follow up on any previous conversations. Check in with the person in a week or two, after your first conversation, choose the appropriate time and location. Enquire how they are feeling and whether they can manage things better than before. Do not be disappointed if they don\u2019t want to discuss the issue further, simply let them know you&#8217;re still there for them and ready to help.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-131fbe7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"131fbe7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5><strong>Here&#8217;s a practical guide to help you ask the question in a safe and supportive way.<\/strong><\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a320f18 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a320f18\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9cbfa1a\" data-id=\"9cbfa1a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-54b4b8d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"54b4b8d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2022\/09\/MicrosoftTeams-image-7-1024x1024.jpg.avif\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-27044\" alt=\"R U OK Day\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2022\/09\/MicrosoftTeams-image-7-1024x1024.jpg.avif 1024w, https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2022\/09\/MicrosoftTeams-image-7-300x300.jpg.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2022\/09\/MicrosoftTeams-image-7-150x150.jpg.avif 150w, https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2022\/09\/MicrosoftTeams-image-7-768x768.jpg.avif 768w, https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2022\/09\/MicrosoftTeams-image-7-330x330.jpg.avif 330w, https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2022\/09\/MicrosoftTeams-image-7-660x660.jpg.avif 660w, https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/MicrosoftTeams-image-7.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.cos.net.au\\\/c\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/09\\\/MicrosoftTeams-image-7-1024x1024.jpg&quot;,&quot;srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.cos.net.au\\\/c\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/09\\\/MicrosoftTeams-image-7-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\\\/\\\/www.cos.net.au\\\/c\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/09\\\/MicrosoftTeams-image-7-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\\\/\\\/www.cos.net.au\\\/c\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/09\\\/MicrosoftTeams-image-7-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\\\/\\\/www.cos.net.au\\\/c\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/09\\\/MicrosoftTeams-image-7-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\\\/\\\/www.cos.net.au\\\/c\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/09\\\/MicrosoftTeams-image-7-330x330.jpg 330w, https:\\\/\\\/www.cos.net.au\\\/c\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/09\\\/MicrosoftTeams-image-7-660x660.jpg 660w, https:\\\/\\\/www.cos.net.au\\\/c\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/09\\\/MicrosoftTeams-image-7.jpg 1080w&quot;}\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class='watch-action'><div class='watch-position align-left'><div class='action-like'><a class='lbg-style3 like-27036 jlk' href='javascript:void(0)' data-task='like' data-post_id='27036' data-nonce='e3ef17697d' rel='nofollow'><img class='wti-pixel' src='https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/plugins\/wti-like-post\/images\/pixel.gif' title='Did you find this useful?' \/><span class='lc-27036 lc'>+3<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class='action-unlike'><a class='unlbg-style3 unlike-27036 jlk' href='javascript:void(0)' data-task='unlike' data-post_id='27036' data-nonce='e3ef17697d' rel='nofollow'><img class='wti-pixel' src='https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-content\/plugins\/wti-like-post\/images\/pixel.gif' title='' \/><span class='unlc-27036 unlc'>0<\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <div class='status-27036 status align-left'><\/div><\/div><div class='wti-clear'><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>According to a survey conducted by Australian Unions, mental health is the fastest growing threat to employees&#8217; health and safety in the workplace. 4 out of 10 Australian workers who reported poor mental health in the previous 12 months found it difficult to initiate a conversation at their workplace as they believe they need an &#8230; <a title=\"Tips for Supporting a Colleague who Answers \u201cNo\u201d on RUOK Day\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/cospedia\/tips-for-supporting-a-colleague-on-ruokday\" aria-label=\"Read more about Tips for Supporting a Colleague who Answers \u201cNo\u201d on RUOK Day\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":27037,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,31,8],"tags":[930,1251,1452,1453,1384,1603,935,2480,1338,2481,2446,2439,2479,2057,526,1751,1195,940],"class_list":["post-27036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cospedia","category-health-wellbeing","category-productivity","tag-anxiety","tag-emotional-health","tag-emotional-safety","tag-emotional-wellbeing","tag-employees-wellbeing","tag-mental-and-physical-health","tag-mental-health-covid-19","tag-mental-stress","tag-mental-wellbeing","tag-poor-mental-health","tag-psychological-safety","tag-psychological-stress","tag-ruokday","tag-stress-at-work","tag-stress-management","tag-stress-free","tag-wellbeing","tag-workplace-mental-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27036","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27036"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27036\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27053,"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27036\/revisions\/27053"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27037"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}