Speaker 1 0:00

You okay , mate ?

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Yeah , mate , I'm fine . It's an automatic reaction every time someone asks but is it enough ? In today's episode , I'll discuss why that one question just isn't enough . Shift work can be brutal , but it doesn't have to be . Welcome to a healthy shift . My name is Roger Sutherland , certified nutritionist , veteran law enforcement officer and 24-7 shift worker for almost four decades . Through this podcast , I aim to educate shift workers , using evidence-based methods , to not only survive the rig as a shift worker , but thrive . My goal is to empower shift workers to improve their health and wellbeing so they have more energy to do the things they love . Enjoy today's show and welcome to today's episode of a healthy shift podcast , and thank you for listening .

Speaker 1 0:59

Today I want to talk about supporting mental health in the workplace strategies for our shift workers . I'm your host , roger Sutherland , and today I have a critical topic that I would really like to discuss and that is supporting the mental health of our colleagues in the workplace . This is generally how it goes and I know you'll relate . Are you okay ? Yeah , mate , I'm fine . Ticks box , walks away , but that is just not enough . It's actually shown quite categorically that it's not enough . One question it's an automatic reaction for all of us to turn around and say , yeah , mate , I'm fine . But it's the next question , which is the key , and that's the one that can actually bring about conversations that may very well open a person up and bring things up and deal with them . Really important , are you okay , dave ? We've just recently had a , are you okay , dave ? And this is great and I am a massive advocate for this , for bringing awareness to it , for mental health . But it's one day and it's great , but we need to be doing this more and more , and especially now .

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So let's just start with what's the importance of mental health in our workplace . We all know mental health . We've got to have good mental health , but do we know ? Before I go into the strategies , let's just take a moment to understand why this topic is so crucial . Because , as shift workers , we navigate through irregular hours and very , very demanding schedules , particularly at the moment , which is taking a massive toll on our mental well-being just in itself . Let's just have a look at a few of the topics that really really causes problems Isolation Isolation is a problem for a shift worker because , while the family's off , doing family stuff , you're trying to sleep or you're at work , and that takes its toll , and it does . It takes its toll in a big way . Make no bones about it , because while there's isolated incidents , when this continually occurs , it actually causes you more and more and more problems Burnout Burnout is very common at the moment in a lot of frontline health and emergency services .

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Members are really , really busy , really busy , really snowed under , really really inundated with paperwork , and they are totally burnt out . They're filling the holes for people who are not there and they're actually just Burning out . Overwhelmed People are totally overwhelmed with the amount of work that's coming their way and no idea how to go about getting on top of it . The pressure that they're under , not only from management , but the pressure that they're under from the public , the government and anybody else that's got an opinion on what they're doing and how they're going about it , and that also takes its toll . And this is without even mentioning the critical incidents that some of these people are attending . Paramedics are attending , fibregate members are attending , pluse are attending , and let's not forget about even our doctors and nurses working in these hospitals , caring for patients and losing them .

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This can be very traumatic and it makes it very , very difficult for them . It's the simple things that can literally sometimes tip people over . It may not be a major incident to you , but , honestly , it can literally be the simple thing , because we don't know what has actually occurred to a person in their life . So be very , very careful and watch very closely . It is essential to create a supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable discussing their mental health . So let's just look at how we recognize signs of a struggle .

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So how do we know when a colleague might be struggling ? Well , keep an eye out . You've got to watch them , talk to them . You know them . Look for changes in their behavior , mood swings , do they look like they're going off ? Are they miserable ? Are they sad ? Have they got a really short wick when they seem to be going , is there signs of withdrawal ? A lot of these things can really be early warning signs and these can be indicators that something might actually be a miss . Ask them hey , I've noticed that you're pretty flat at the moment . Is everything okay ? Oh , yeah , mate , I'm fine , yeah , but you're being flat . Is you know , like seriously , is everything okay ?

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Ask people for these things a few times , because that can actually be the incident or the question that actually opens them up and you , honestly , you don't know how many times have we heard of a person suiciding or something like that , and we wish God I wish I'd known Watch , listen , learn , pay attention and ask the question and then ask them again and then keep an eye on the behavior and just point out a behavior that they may not be aware of that may very well just open them up . All right , the greatest power that we have , the greatest power in our toolkit , is the power of active listening , and I think it's really really important that if we are asking a colleague or a friend what's going on , that we sit there and we actively listen , because when they actually open up about their mental health , it's crucial that we give them our full attention , total attention , and it's imperative that you actually resist the urge to jump in with advice . Sometimes they're not looking for advice . If they want advice , they will ask you , but instead offer empathy and understanding . Just be there for them and just listen . Just be an active listener , and they will appreciate it and they will come to you with any questions or ask you for your opinion .

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Creating a safe space , creating a safe space for these conversations , is actually paramount , really , really important . People need to know that they can actually discuss their mental health without there being some sort of an impact . Encourage an open and non-judgemental environment where your friend or colleague can feel comfortable in sharing their feelings . And remember we're all in this together . We're all suffering at times , at different times , with different things , and we all need to be in a position where we can literally just Open up and talk about those things . And don't forget , we can offer resources as well as evidence-based Nutritionists I am . I completely have a handle and understand the profound impact that your diet and your lifestyle can literally be having on your mental health . So , in your workplace , share resources and information on how nutrition and well-being practices can really support your mental health . This may very well be a game changer for your colleague .

Speaker 1 8:08

Fine ways to go about it , fine ways to help them , because you know we are a lot of what we eat . If we're eating highly processed or we're doing Drugs or we're doing alcohol or whatever we , it seriously starts to impact on all sorts of issues around your mental health . There is a very , very strong gut brain access and it's been more and more research . Now if your mental health is suffering , your gut health will suffer . If your gut health is suffering , your mental health will suffer as well . If you're always putting highly palatable carbohydrates and fats , highly processed foods , high sugar foods into your system , then you can expect that your mental health is going to take a hit from that as well . So make sure you're getting all the rainbow in the colors of the rainbow , fruits and vegetables .

Speaker 1 8:57

And Don't forget when someone opens up and talks to you , that is not the end of the conversation . Follow up with them and check in after these conversations . Don't let it end there . It's really important . Follow up with them . It could be a simple message to let them know that you're thinking about them . These gestures can actually mean the world to someone who's going through a really tough time . You may actually have saved them without even realizing . And remember you're not expected to be an expert . So what can we actually do ? Because you're just a friend , be a listener , but they can seek professional help and you can encourage people to go seeking professional help when they need it .

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Sometimes the support of a mental health professional is essential . We are not trained mental health professionals and there's plenty of them out there that Know how to go about dealing with these situations , so know when to go . Provide information on available resources and ensure that everyone knows whereabouts they can actually turn to go to get help , because there's a lot of resources , there's a lot of things there that are available in all kinds of organizations . Whether you want to scoff at it or whether you want to laugh at it , there are , they are trying their best to help , and you can always go and see your doctor and sit down and have a chat with your GP . In fact , it's an excellent place to start to actually sow the seeds and actually start Conversations around your mental health as well , and you might be pleasantly surprised at the reaction from your doctor , and he can refer you or put you on to a mental health plan or a health plan that can actually Assist you and direct you in the right direction that you might need to go .

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Alright , that's a wrap for today's episode . These evidence-based strategies can actually make a significant difference in how we support the mental health of our colleagues in and around the Workplace . Remember we're not here to just survive . We're here to thrive . Stay committed to nourishing your body and prioritizing your well-being and , as always , please remember to be patient and kind to yourself as you navigate the challenges of shift work and prioritize your mental health and well-being . Thank you for listening . If you enjoyed this episode , be sure to subscribe so you get notified whenever a new episode is released . It would also be ever so helpful if you could leave a rating and review on the app you're currently listening on . If you want to know more About me or work with me , you can go to a healthy shift comm . I'll catch you on the next one . You .