The culture of an organisation plays an important role in helping someone with a mental health problem successfully return to work. Your organisation should be committed to reintegrating all workers with a mental health problem and should have ways of making this known to employees at all levels. Fostering a supportive work environment that is conducive to good mental health and the enhancement of mental wellbeing can be achieved by:

• encouraging staff to discuss stress and seek support when experiencing mental health problems
• creating a culture in which disclosure of mental health problems is accepted
• taking action to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health problems
• adopting a positive attitude towards those recovering from mental health problems

The attitudes and behaviours of senior managers often set the tone for other employees and are therefore particularly important in creating a supportive work environment. Stigmatising attitudes often arise out of fear or ignorance and greater awareness or preferably, mental health training can play a valuable role in helping to overcome stigma.

Providing counselling services for your employees through an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can help those who need it seek support. However, it is important to be aware that an EAP does not provide clinical treatment. In cases of significant mental illness, the role of EAP providers should be to recommend appropriate treatment in the community in order that symptoms are appropriately recognised and addressed. The Employee Assistance Professional Association of Australasia has a listing of providers in your state or territory.