Donna Thistlethwaite

  Creating a Healthier Workplace Through MHFA When superannuation fund, QSuper , decided to introduce an internal network of Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAiders) in early 2020, they had no idea how perfect their timing would turn out to be. Less than two months later Covid-19 threw the world, workplaces and workers into turmoil. Never has it been more valuable to have people in your team who understand mental illness and who can confidently recognise and support a struggling colleague or customer. QSuper’s objective for introducing Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) was to enhance the psychological safety of their workforce and to create a positive culture around mental health, both of which are key components of achieving a healthy workplace . A large number of their staff directly support the organisation’s members who can sometimes be experiencing significant life challenges. When customers are doing it tough, this can have a flow-on effect on the compassionate staff who s...

  How to create a positive ripple effect at work Our family has visited the Woodford Folk Festival every second year for close to a decade and a half. It’s one of the highlights of my life because of the incredible musicians it attracts, the street art which is always a feast for the eyes, and the spiritual element associated with the program and the connection to land. Every time we visit I find myself wishing that Woodford could be expanded beyond the property’s boundaries … that the energy and attitude of the place and the patrons could exist in the non-Woodford world. There is always an air of kindness at Woodford, whether it’s the smiles people exchange as they move through the site, the friendly chats in the occasional line or the neighbouring campers offering to pick up ice for you when they get theirs. Last Woodford I had an experience that I think encapsulates its essence. Late on New Years Eve a cool breeze blew in and rather than go back to our tent for an outf...

  Mental Health First Aid A Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course equips participants with the skills to recognise and appropriately support someone experiencing an emerging or worsening mental illness. The program outcomes include: Improved knowledge of mental illnesses and treatments. Knowledge of appropriate first aid strategies, and confidence in providing first aid to individuals with mental illness. Standard MHFA Manual to keep, a Certificate of Completion and eligibility to become accredited as a Mental Health First Aider. A Mental Health First Aider provides support until a person is able to get to appropriate professional help. Fully online versions of both a community and workplace MHFA course are now available. Please call 0419 120 601 to discuss your needs. The online course consists of two components: Component 1: Self-paced interactive eLearning (5-7 hours) The eLearning course component presents an overview of mental health problems a...

Can Any Of Us Afford Not To Have These Skills Often at my talks I will ask the audience to put up their hand if they, or someone they know, has experienced a mental illness? Almost every time, every hand in the room goes up. Take a moment to reflect on this question yourself … Chances are that the answer is yes, given that 45% of us will over our lifetime. That’s almost half of the population yet how many of us know how to identify and respond to someone experiencing a mental illness? There’s been some fantastic work done over the past few years to educate, de-stigmatise and skill people up to be able to help someone going through an episode of mental illness but I honestly worry that we still have much work to do and in the meantime many will suffer and lives will be lost unnecessarily. My personal experience, and discussions with many people about mental illness and suicide, has convinced me that no-one is totally immune to mental illness and suicidal thoughts. I have been...