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Founder Wellness Breakfast Promotes Healthy Wellbeing for Business Owners

The Founder Wellness Breakfast, sponsored by Safety Culture and held this morning at Smart Precinct NQ, provided an opportunity for business owners to check in with their mental wellbeing, hear from guest speakers and network with the community. 

In collaboration with Mentally Healthy City Townsville,  Cathy O’Toole, a former Federal Member of Parliament, who has been a CEO in the Community Mental Health Sector for 15 years and a small business owner for 30 years, spoke of the importance of mental health for business owners and provided some great resources and tips.

“Flourishing communities deliver strong economies and mentally healthy workers take ownership of their job and value their work,” she explained. 

“Studies have estimated that the cost of unhealthy workplaces to businesses in Australia is between $11 billion to $12.8 billion each year (KPMG and Mental Health Australia 2018).

“Therefore, mentally healthy workplaces create a cohesive work-life balance and contribute to greater long-term economic outcomes for owners and their businesses.

Cathy O’Toole said workplaces should focus on stigma reduction and demonstrate the following: 

  • Promotion of mental health and wellbeing
  • Early intervention
  • Preventative strategies
  • Support people on the wellness journey

Cathy also spoke of the various resources available to help business owners improve their mental wellbeing.

  • Beyond Blue – business advisers’ free mental health guide for small business owners, designed to support their clients’ mental wellbeing. The guide includes practical information, tips and links to further resources.
  •  Black Dog Institute – tips and information on how to make your business or workplace mentally healthy.
  •  Dear mind – ideas and inspiration for incorporating mental wellbeing activities into your everyday life and links to wellbeing resources and support services.
  •  Heads up – a wide range of resources, information and advice including an interactive tool to help you create an action plan that’s tailored for your business.
  • R U OK? – mental health resources, including a mental health handbook for small business owners that encourages business owners, leaders and employees to build an R U OK culture in the workplace.
  • Mentally healthy workplaces toolkit by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has guidance material and practical tools to help you make positive steps towards a mentally healthy workplace.

By Georgie Desailly.

Picture of Georgie Desailly

Georgie Desailly

Georgie is BDmag’s resident writer who is passionate about entrepreneurship, sustainability and regional affairs. She spent time studying in New York City where she was trained by some of the world's leading journalists at The School of the New York Times.
Picture of Georgie Desailly

Georgie Desailly

Georgie is BDmag’s resident writer who is passionate about entrepreneurship, sustainability and regional affairs. She spent time studying in New York City where she was trained by some of the world's leading journalists at The School of the New York Times.