No Help for Mental Health in Zero I came into work in the safety industry after many years in various professions including Community Services, not-for-profit services, Social Work, Education, Youth Services, Youth Detention, Pastoral Counselling, EAP and Corrections. In all of these professional … [Read more...] about No Help for Mental Health in Zero
mental health
What Safety and Risk Could Learn From Patch Adams
What Safety and Risk Could Learn From Patch Adams Gesundheit – Toward Holistic Health Last night I watched the movie Patch Adams starring the late, and amazingly talented, Robin Williams. The story for those who don’t know it is broadly based around the work and life of the real life medical … [Read more...] about What Safety and Risk Could Learn From Patch Adams
The Sickness of Safetyism
The Sickness of Safetyism When I do training and safety people attend there is invariably someone who introduces themselves by the nominal ‘Safety Sam’ or ‘Safety Sally’. This is how they are known at work and want to be identified and unfortunately are proud of it. Funny, I’ve never met a ‘Teacher … [Read more...] about The Sickness of Safetyism
Do You Treat EAP’s Like a Smash Repairer?
Great article by Rob Sams published recently on LinkedIn Pulse HERE Do You Treat EAP's Like a Smash Repairer? Could it be that listening is one critical skill that we all need to focus on if our aim is to ‘help’ others? What lessons could we take from Lifeline about how to best help someone … [Read more...] about Do You Treat EAP’s Like a Smash Repairer?
Culture, Toxicity and Safety
Culture, Toxicity and Safety There are several reasons why Safety in its current state will never deal effectively with mental health: · The mis-definition of culture and, · The brutalism of zero The only way to drive for zero is to: · Suppress reporting (learning) · Focus on petty risk · … [Read more...] about Culture, Toxicity and Safety
The Challenges for Organisations in Dealing with Mental Health
The Challenges for Organisations in Dealing with Mental Health How does adopting a ‘reductionist’ approach impact on mental health at work? Organisations world-over[1], including in Australia[2], are challenged by the difficulties[3] of dealing with mental health[4] in their workplaces. Factors … [Read more...] about The Challenges for Organisations in Dealing with Mental Health
The Moral Harm of the Zero Cult
Whenever we hear the slogan of ‘zero harm’, we know that it is selective. There is never any discussion in the zero-harm cult about ‘moral harm’ or ‘psychological harm’. Out of sight out of Mind. Whenever Safety focuses on the silly idea that the presence of injury represents safety … [Read more...] about The Moral Harm of the Zero Cult
Mental Health and the Safety Habitus
Mental Health and the Safety Habitus How is the safety industry equipped to tackle the challenges of mental health? What assumptions about personhood and ‘mind’ dominate the safety sector? Do these assumptions help or hinder an holistic approach to tackling mental health at work? These questions … [Read more...] about Mental Health and the Safety Habitus
‘Wrestling in the Mud’
‘Wrestling in the Mud’ First published here: http://dolphyn.com.au/wrestling-in-the-mud/ He began crying without notice, it took me by surprise. We were in our late teens and just finished cricket practice. Following our usual routine, we stuck around for an extra ½ hour, just the two of … [Read more...] about ‘Wrestling in the Mud’
Unanswered Questions and Mental Health
Yesterday we went to a memorial function for a friend whose daughter suicided, Sam was 36. These are always very troubling occasions with many tears and many more unanswered questions. We went to a local restaurant/bar which was a favourite for Sam and many friends came, the place was … [Read more...] about Unanswered Questions and Mental Health