Psych Health and Safety Podcast

In this episode, Ian Lewis interviews Catherine Wilcox of Translink, one of Canada's largest integrated transit systems comprised of boats, buses, trains, and trams and a large workforce of operators, support technicians, public safety personnel, and corporate support. Translink has extensive experience in critical incident response and now are leaning into prevention and increasing workplace support in their wellbeing strategy. Please join us as Catherine describes how they leveraged existing listening and feedback channels to develop, not impose. a well-being strategy.

In this Expert Series episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle discuss key considerations to ensure your psychosocial safety activities move beyond ad-hoc to embedded. In this practical and broad-ranging conversation they consider board/exec reporting, risk ownership, process ownership, incident response and competence building.

In this episode, UK host Peter Kelly chats with Emma Meenan, Head of Health and Safety at London Luton Airport. Emma shares about the process involved in achieving certification against ISO 45003.

You can read the full paper here: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0306065

In this episode, guest host Erin O’Byrne sits down with Megan Wilson and Mike Armson from Sklar, Wilton & Associates, marketing and strategy consultancy, to delve into the company’s unique internal culture and the impact of their Headway program on external clients. They explore how their Helping Quotient and culture of feedback were developed, detailing the evolution of their mental health initiatives both within the organization and beyond. The discussion also highlights the challenges faced by employees and organizations, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures.

https://www.hpma.org.uk/download/when-we-do-harm/When work harms: how better understanding of avoidable employee harm can improve employee safety, patient safety and healthcare quality | BMJ LeaderFrontiers | The last resort: reducing avoidable employee harm by improving the application of the disciplinary policy and process (frontiersin.org)The organisational harm, economic cost and workforce waste of unnecessary disciplinary investigations | British Journal of Healthcare Management (magonlinelibrary.com)The impact of poorly applied human resources policies on individuals and organisations | British Journal of Healthcare Management (magonlinelibrary.com)

In this episode, Ian Lewis speaks with Leora Hornstein of Cenovus Energy, a leading international energy with a substantial presence in Western Canada. She has been with Cenovus for 8 years and is currently the Well-being Specialist, leading well-being at the company. She is also a Registered Nurse, Certified Occupational Health Nurse, and a trained fitness and Yoga instructor. Cenovus was recently awarded the 2023 Workplace Well-being Award through the Canadian Positive Psychology Association. You can connect with Leora on LinkedIn > https://www.linkedin.com/in/leorahornsteinwellbeingleader/ and read more about recent efforts at Cenovus here > https://calgarychamber.com/prioritizing-mental-health-with-cenovus

In this episode of the Psych Health and Safety podcast, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Kate Harris of North Adelaide Local Health Network regarding the application of risk matrices to psychosocial risk. During the discussion, they talk about her experience leading a project with various stakeholders to build a contextually relevant risk matrix for psychosocial risk in healthcare. This included how to effectively consult with stakeholders, as well as the modifications required to standard 5x5 matrices to incorporate the complexities of how psychosocial hazards cause harm.

In this Expert Series expert, UK hosts Peter and Kate chat about the importance of considering exposure when understanding the risk associated with psychosocial hazards. They explore the concept of sources of exposure and whether this should have implications to organisational risk management activities.

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Millie Thompson, Manager of Workplace Wellbeing at the Ministry of Social Development in New Zealand. Millie draws from her extensive experience in the public sector to share her views on the psychosocial challenges that are either unique to or exacerbated by the nature of public service.

This episode is the first in a two-part series. Host Kim MacDonald and guest Dr. Leah Ringwald discuss the Conference Board's study into social connection in Canadian workplaces, titled, Real Connections in a Virtual World: Designing Remote Workplaces for Social Connections. Dr. Leah Ringwald is the Conference Board of Canada's associate director of health and human capital and research lead on workplace mental health and well-being. In this episode, Kim and Dr. Ringwald discuss phase 1 of the study, the topic of social connection and its relationship to psychological health and safety, workplace mental health, and well-being. Dr. Ringwald will return as a guest following the completion of phase 2, a Canadian national survey and in-depth qualitative research to be released in the fall of this year. Useful resources from the episode: - The study's phase 1 report (discussed during the podcast): https://www.conferenceboard.ca/product/real-connections-in-a-virtual-world_2024/ - To reach out to Dr. Ringwald: https://www.conferenceboard.ca/team-members/leah-ringwald/ - The Conference Board's Human Resources research: https://www.conferenceboard.ca/focus-areas/human-resources/ - The Conference Board's Workplace Mental Health Research Centre: https://www.conferenceboard.ca/research-centre/wmhc/

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Emma Peterson, Partner at Russell McVeagh. Emma provides legal insights into a recent case in the New Zealand Employment Court involving Associate Professor Siouxie Wiles and the University of Auckland. The Court found in favour of Dr Wiles in relation to ongoing harassment she had received from members of the public. Emma takes us through the key elements of the claim, the steps taken by the University, the Court findings, and lessons for employers arising from this case.

In this episode, UK hosts Peter and Kate chat with Sarah Gashier. Sarah shares from her time in leading the London Healthy Workplace Awards, and provides some insights into the micro award category for organisations with fewer than 10 employees. Sarah then shares her experiences of workplace harassment and discrimination associated with invisible disabilities.

In this Expert Series episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle discuss key topics they have seen first-hand influence key stakeholders to speed up the adoption of a psychosocial safety strategy. The discussion revolved around 1) The role of legislation and enforcement of new WHS regulations, 2) elevating the profile of psychosocial risks by adding it to WHS critical risks, and 3) Leveraging common goals regarding sexual harassment prevention and psychosocial investigations to align HR and HSE functions.

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Roxane Gervais, Principal Psychologist at Practical Psychology Consultancy Ltd, and Dr Prue Millear, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of the Sunshine Coast. We chat about their current research into serious leisure and its role in work recovery. They are currently recruiting participants to help with their research - listeners who are interested can learn more via this link: https://uniofsunshinecoast.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eE9nUJBeY8dZ0Dc

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Rachael Potter, Research Fellow for Justice and Society at the University of South Australia. We discuss her recently published paper developing a National Policy Index for worker mental health, involving input from 45 diverse countries. Rachael speaks to her methodology and findings, and shares insights she has collected through taking a global perspective on workplace mental health. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925753524000183

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Liz Payne, Head of Organisational Development & Learning at the Southern Eastern Sydney Local Health District and most recently, the chair of the inaugural Psych Health and Safety Conference (PHS Con 2024). During this lively conversation, Liz, Joelle and Jason recap highlights from the PHS Con 2024. This included the live podcast recordings with Michael Leiter and Christina Maslach of burnout fame, the fantastic interview of USA podcast I. David Daniels on inclusivity in crafting psychologically healthy work, the emotional and inspiring interview of Zagi Kozarov on her High Court battle, the insights delivered by regulators, and the 10-year anniversary panel of the integrated approach to workplace mental health. Missed the conference? Post-event access is now available at www.phscon.com

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Megan Alderson, Founding Director The Strand Veterinarian and Creator of the Vet Thrive Wellness Programme. Megan speaks about the mental health challenges facing the veterinary industry, and shares details of a program she developed and implemented to improve wellbeing in veterinary practice - and won the HRNZ Supreme Award.

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Benjamin Ostrowski, Senior Behavioural Researcher at Atlassian. Ben shares insights and findings from his ongoing internal research with Atlassian's Team Anywhere, exploring a range of outcomes in distributed work teams including productivity, innovation, and mental health. https://www.atlassian.com/blog/distributed-work/distributed-work-report

In this episode, UK hosts Peter and Kate chat with Stavroula Leka, Professor of Organisations Work and Health at Lancaster University. Stavroula shares her recollections from her time as the convenor of the working group for ISO 45003, and offers insights into global policy and legislative changes in relation to psychological health and safety.

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Mike Hagan, HR and WHS Consultant at Mike Hagan Consulting Services. Mike shares insights from his experiences working across Safety and Human Resources to implement psychological health and safety in a large multinational. Key issues and challenges include implementing psychosocial surveys, accessing organisational data, managing resources and capacity, and navigating internal territorial or political issues.

In this episode, UK hosts Peter and Kate chat with Sara Flanagan, Global Wellbeing Director at Boston Consulting Group. Sara shares from her experiences in implementing psychological health and safety internally within professional services firms, both at a national and at a global level.

In this episode, UK hosts Peter and Kate chat with Marc Atherton, Registered Aviation Psychologist and Partner at Allaxa. Marc speaks to the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns on the aviation industry, shares his views about the relationship between mental health and safety in aviation, and shares insights from the recently published Royal Aeronautical Society Briefing Paper on Psychosocial Risk Management and Mental Health. https://www.aerosociety.com/media/23475/mental-health and-wellbeing-raes-paper.pdf

In this episode Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Brock Bastian, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Melbourne, and Director and Principal Psychologist at Psychological Safety Australia. Brock shares learnings from his research in the fields of organisational culture and leadership, and we chat about the topic of toxic positivity.

In this episode Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr John Fitzgerald, Mentally Healthy Work Lead at WorkSafe New Zealand. We explore a research report recently published by WorkSafe examining the role of work factors in suicide. John details the research purpose, methodology, and findings, and shares his key takeaway messages arising from the research. https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/research/work-related-suicide-examining-the-role-of-work-factors-in-suicide/

In this episode, UK hosts Peter Kelly and Kate Field chat with Stuart Mace, Occupational Health and Wellbeing Lead at Skansa. Stuart shares his experiences from working in recruitment, in particular his observations about the role of psychosocial hazards in driving turnover. He reflects on how his experiences in recruiting inform his learning while completing postgraduate qualifications.

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with John Chan, an organisational psychologist and Managing Director at Infinite Potential. He shares the latest findings from his ongoing burnout research, including the impact of psychosocial hazards such as job demands, job control, and workplace relationships. He also discusses interesting new areas of research into short work weeks and loneliness, and how these interact with burnout. https://infinite-potential.com.au/the-state-of-burnout-2024

In this episode, Sharon Moffat, a mental health trainer and speaker, shares her personal journey with mental illness and how she transitioned from being a personal trainer to working in the mental health space. She discusses the impact of workplace pressure and relationships with leaders on mental health and emphasizes the need for organizations to be aware of these factors. Sharon also highlights the importance of mental health first aid and signposting, as well as the need to talk about women's mental health and the mental health impact of breast cancer. She concludes by offering advice to listeners and her younger self.

In this research synopsis episode, Professor Tony LaMontagne discusses his published paper titled "Work-related causes of mental health conditions and interventions for their improvement in workplaces", published in The Lancet in 2023. The paper explores the evidence that psychosocial hazards harm mental health and provides recommendations for addressing these hazards in the workplace. https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au/handle/10072/426372

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Christina Hey-Nguyen and Alex Rowe from the SafeWork NSW Respect at Work Taskforce. They share why the Taskforce was formed, the 4-year strategy, the approach to regulation taken by the Taskforce, and what employers can expect from a Taskforce inspection or investigation. They share their views on what reasonably practicable means in relation to workplace sexual harassment, and the methods and approaches employers should be considering from a prevention perspective. https://www.nsw.gov.au/business-and-economy/respect-at-work https://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-10/respect-at-work-strategy-2023-2027.pdf https://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-10/workplace-sexual-harassment-reporting-options.pdf https://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-10/workplace-sexual-harassment-regulation-map.pdf

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Ben Caldwell, communications coordinator for Rangitīkei District Council. He shares his approach to creating a personality for a local government social media account ("Ben from Comms"), and the value that an engaging social media presence can provide to local government. He talks about the types of psychosocial hazards he experiences in his social media work, and shares suggested strategies for individuals and employers to better protect people who work in social media.

In this special 200th episode of the Psych Health and Safety Podcast, hosts Jason, Joelle, and Peter celebrate the milestone and make exciting announcements. They introduce the newest co-host for the UK stream of the podcast, Kate Field. The hosts reflect on the journey of the podcast and the valuable insights gained from interviewing industry leaders. They discuss the growing interest in psychological health and safety and the adoption of ISO 45003. The episode concludes with a discussion on companies that are excelling in the field of psych health and safety.

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with James Owen Lewis, a human sustainability leader at Deloitte, who shares insights into workplace mental health programs in the UK. He highlights the need for a holistic approach to workplace wellbeing and the importance of addressing root causes rather than adding more interventions. He also discusses the significance of taking a triple bottom line approach, considering financial, environmental, and people-related factors.

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Joe Grasso, Clinical Psychologist and Vice President, Workforce Transformation at Lyra Health. Joe talks about the healthcare context in the United States and the role of the EAP within that context. He talks about the opportunity for EAP providers to engage in primary prevention work with their client organisations. He shares the typical approach to EAP delivery in the US and outlines some of the challenges inherent in common EAP business models. He offers advice for organisations evaluating EAP providers to ensure that they contract with providers who are providing high quality clinical care.

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Nerida Jessup, Partner at Herbert Smith Freehills. Nerida shares her perspectives on the Right to Disconnect Bill and discusses similar legislation outside of Australia, and the apparent overlaps between this bill and WHS legislation. She offers advice for businesses preparing for the new laws to come into effect.

Content warning: Suicide In this episode, UK host Peter Kelly chats with Steve Phillip, Founder of the Jordan Legacy. Steve shares the thinking and purpose behind the Jordan Legacy, and the work that the Legacy does with businesses and government to support meaningful suicide prevention activities. https://thejordanlegacy.com/

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle interview Shannon Butcher, Organisational Psychologist and Deputy Director - Master of Industrial and Organisational Psychology Program at the University of Western Australia. Shannon tells us about a research project on the state of work in Australia, exploring job satisfaction, psychological safety, employer concern for employee wellbeing, and views on the future of work. https://psychology.org.au/about-us/news-and-media/media-releases/2023/australian-workforce-survey-2023-finds-workers-at

In this crossover episode, regular host Jason van Schie is interviewed by Graeme Cowan on his 'Caring CEO' podcast. They discuss the journey Jason has been on as founder and now as business leader of FlourishDx as they define and build the 'psychological health and safety as a service' business model.

In this episode, UK host Peter Kelly chats with Paul McGregor, Founder of Everymind at Work. Paul discusses some of the common pitfalls organisations encounter when implementing a Mental Health First Aid program, and shares strategies to improve program effectiveness and how to improve protections and supports for peer supporters. https://everymindatwork.com/

In this episode Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr. Cynthia Mathieu, Author and Professor of Organizational Behavior at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. We chat about her book, Dark Personalities in the Workplace, and her ongoing research into dark personalities in the workplace. https://cynthiamathieu.com/en/

In this episode, UK host Peter Kelly chats with Nicola Hemmings, Occupational Psychologist. They discuss the impact of pandemic lockdown on mental health, the importance of evidence-based approaches, and Nicola's research on mental health guidance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Josh Darby, Senior Firefighter and the Project Lead of the Whanaungatanga Trust and Wellbeing Programme. Josh shares with us some emerging findings from his research into the impact of trauma on fire fighter mental health, and the role that perceived organisational support plays in that relationship.

THIS IS A REPLAY OF EPISODE #173 The Psych Health and Safety Podcast will be returning 16th January 2024! In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Lyndall Strazdins, Professor and Director, ANU Mental Health Review. Lyndall shares her views on time as a social determinant of health. We explore the current discussions about working hours in Australia, reframing working hours from the perspective of the household rather than the individual, and how individual and social factors interact with working hours to influence risk. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-do-work-hours-become-whs-hazard-centreforwhs/

THIS IS A REPLAY OF EPISODE #168 The Psych Health and Safety Podcast will be returning 16th January 2024! In this extended episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Francois Barton, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum. Francois shares the work that the Forum has been contributing to the field of psych health and safety practice. We discuss the challenges and concerns facing members of the Board and Executive responsible for psych health and safety, share strategies and approaches that are helpful.

THIS IS A REPLAY OF EPISODE #158 The Psych Health and Safety Podcast will be returning 16th January 2024! In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with returning guest Jennifer Low, Director of Health, Safety, Resilience and Digital Policy at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Jen provides an update on the progress of the psychosocial regulations since we last spoke with her, then gives us a crash course in work design for psychosocial hazards.

THIS IS A REPLAY OF EPISODE #140 The Psych Health and Safety Podcast will be returning 16th January 2024! In this episode, Hayley and Peter chat with Jamie Broadley, Head of Health & Wellbeing at Serco. Jamie talks about Serco's experiences in implementing ISO 45003 and how they have approached operationalising the standard in the face of competing resource priorities and what are some and the future for psych health and safety in the UK

THIS IS A REPLAY OF EPISODE #139 The Psych Health and Safety Podcast will be returning 16th January 2024! In this episode we chat with Susanna Harkonen, CEO and Founder of Inner Work. We discuss the implications of the recent International Labour Organization to include a safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work; along with the WHO-ILO Joint Policy Brief on mental health at work. She shares insights from her work as a member of the WHO's Pan-European working group on workplace mental health, identifying positive trends and areas of concern.

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle reflect on 2023 and share what they have observed and learned during that time, trends that are continuing, and what they expect for 2024.

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with a team of researchers from the University of Western Australia. Dr Aleksandra Luksyte, Dr Stijn Masschelein, and Dr Joseph Carpini collaborated on a field research project (using a control condition and random assignment!) exploring what happens when a workforce is granted "radical flexibility". Check out the episode to find out what happened!

In this special episode recorded as a live webinar, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle officially launch THE Psych Health and Safety Conference. We are joined by conference speakers (and repeat podcast guests) Dave Burroughs and Angela Martin to explore the Agenda. https://psychhealthandsafetyconference.com/