HeadsUp uses statistics from trusted references and research.

Statistics have been categorised in alphabetical order below, click the relevant category for the statistic you're looking for:

 

Healthy workplaces

Around 90 per cent of employees think mental health is an important issue for businesses, but only 50 per cent believe their workplace is mentally healthy.
TNS (2014). State of Workplace Mental Health in Australia. Melbourne: Beyond Blue. Link to report

Research by Pricewaterhouse Coopers has shown that for every dollar you spend creating a mentally healthy workplace can, on average, result in a positive return on investment (ROI) of 2.3.
Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC) (2014) Creating a mentally healthy workplace: Return on investment analysis. Melbourne: Beyond Blue. Link to report

Research by Instinct and Reason (PDF) found that three-quarters of Australian employees say a mentally healthy workplace is important when looking for a job.
Instinct and Reason (2014) Heads up Initiative: Employer of Choice Study. Melbourne: Beyond Blue. Link to report

Evidence shows that taking an integrated approach to mental health and wellbeing in the workplace leads to the greatest benefits.
LaMontagne, AD., et al. (2014) Workplace mental health: developing an integrated approach. BMC Psychiatry, 14,131.

Research by Instinct and Reason found that three-quarters of Australian employees say a mentally healthy workplace is important when looking for a job.
Instinct and Reason (2014) Heads up Initiative: Employer of Choice Study. Melbourne: Beyond Blue. Link to report

Organisations with a positive approach to mental health and safety have increased productivity, improved worker engagement and are better able to recruit and retain talented people.
Instinct and Reason (2014) Heads up Initiative: Employer of Choice Study. Melbourne: Beyond Blue. Link to report

(Organisations) also have reduced absenteeism, risk of conflict, grievances, turnover, disability injury rates and performance or morale problems.
Standards Council of Canada (2013). Psychological health and safety in the workplace — Prevention, promotion, and guidance to staged implementation. CAN/CSA-Z1003-13/BNQ 9700-803/2013.

 

 

Health services

Evidence suggests health professionals are at greater risk of experiencing anxiety, depression and suicide.
Milner A.J., Maheen H., Bismark M.M. & Spittal M.J. (2016). Suicide by health professionals: a retrospective. Link to report

Beyond Blue Ltd. (2016). National Mental Health Survey of Doctors and Medical Students – October 2013. Melbourne: Beyond Blue.

 

 

Mental health at work

Anxiety and depression tend to affect people during their prime working years.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2008). National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results, 2007. Cat. no. (4326.0). Canberra: ABS. 

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 5 million of Australia’s 7.9 million full-time employees put in more than 40 hours every week, with 1.6 million racking up more than 50 working hours.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 2017. Characteristics of Employment, Australia, August 2016. Cat. no. (6333.0). Canberra: ABS. Link to report

Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health conditions experienced by people in Australia, and tend to affect people during their prime working years (16 to 64 years).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2008). National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results, 2007, Table 1. Cat. no. (4326.0). Canberra: ABS. 

 

 

Mental health conditions

It's estimated that 45 per cent of Australians will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime, the most common being anxiety and depression.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2008). National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results, 2007. Cat. no. (4326.0). Canberra: ABS. 

Although anxiety and depression can be as debilitating as a serious physical illness, less than half of the people experiencing these conditions seek help.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2008). National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results, 2007. Cat. no. (4326.0). Canberra: ABS.

One in five Australian workers is currently experiencing a mental health condition.
TNS (2014). State of Workplace Mental Health in Australia. Melbourne: Beyond Blue. Link to report

 

 

Police and emergency services

Research indicates that exposure to traumatic stress and critical incidents may place ambulance, fire and rescue, police and state emergency services personnel at a greater risk for adverse mental health outcomes, including increased rates of depression,1 post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),2 burnout, stress-related anxiety, and suicide.3,4
1.Wang, Z., Inslicht, S. S., Metzler, T. J., Henn-Haase, C., McCaslin, S. E., Tong, H., Neylan, T. C. and Marmar, C. R. (2010) A prospective study of predictors of depression symptoms in police. Psychiatry Research, 175(3), pp. 211-216.

2. Marmar, C. R., McCaslin, S. E., Metzler, T. J., Best, S., Weiss, D. S., Fagan, J., Liberman, A., Pole, N., Otte, C. and Yehuda, R. (2006) Predictors of posttraumatic stress in police and other first responders. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1071(1), pp. 1-18.

3. Joyce, S., Modini, M., Christensen, H., Mykletun, A., Bryant, R., Mitchell, P. and Harvey, S. (2016) Workplace interventions for common mental disorders: a systematic meta-review. Psychological medicine, 46(4), pp. 683-697.

4. Rutkow, L., Gable, L. and Links, J. M. (2011) Protecting the mental health of first responders: legal and ethical considerations. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 39(s1), pp. 56-59.

 

 

Suicide prevention

Suicide is a major public health issue in Australia, with more than eight people dying every day.Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2016). Causes of Death, Australia 2015, preliminary data., Cat. no. (3303.0). Canberra: ABS.

Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians aged between 15 and 44.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2016). Causes of Death, Australia 2015, preliminary data., Cat. no. (3303.0). Canberra: ABS.

 

 

What is mental health

According to the World Health Organization, mental health is "a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community".
World Health Organisation (WHO), 2014. Mental Health: a State of Wellbeing. [online] Link to report

 

 

Workplace bullying

It is estimated to cost Australian organisations between $6 billion and $36 billion a year.
Productivity Commission. (2010). Performance Benchmarking of Australian business regulation: Occupational Health and Safety. Melbourne: Australian Productivity Commission.

While we often think about bullying as an individual or interpersonal issue, research commissioned by Beyond Blue shows that broader environmental factors - such as poor organisational culture and a lack of leadership - are in fact the main drivers. 
Magee, C., et al. (2014) Workplace Bullying in Australia. Melbourne: Beyond Blue. Link to report

 

 

Contact us

Email workplace@beyondblue.org.au if you have questions or feedback relating to the statistics or references.