In today's uncertain world, mental health support is more important than ever. Current events around the globe have highlighted how social unrest, climate change and natural disasters can profoundly impact our mental wellbeing.

Mental illness is now the leading cause of sickness absence and long-term work incapacity in most developed countries.¹

As the day-to-day challenges of the cost of living and housing crises converge with global social and political uncertainty, many more Australians are feeling stressed and anxious.

With nearly 1 in 5 Australians experiencing poor mental health each year² and the cost to Australia of mental ill-health and suicide up to $220 billion per year,³ Stockland is taking steps to improve mental health support in its retail and office environments.

Being there in an emergency

We’re using the WELL Health-Safety Rating – Support Mental Health Recovery – to shape workplaces and retail centres that are focused on improving emotional wellbeing and helping people to recover their mental health after an emergency.

Most people who go through an emergency or a traumatic event can have strong physical and mental reactions such as feeling overwhelmed, depressed, anxious, hopeless, fatigued, irritable or angry. These feelings can also be made worse by added stressors during emergencies such as social isolation, domestic abuse, economic hardship or the loss of loved ones.

While we don’t have control over an emergency situation, having access to health services and mental health support before, during and after any crisis is really important to help people cope with change, look after themselves and to build resilience.

Getting help 

We’re making it easier for people to access welcoming mental health services and support, such as psychological first aid, crisis counselling and bereavement counselling. We know that talking to someone and getting advice is the first step to support short-term recovery and long-term productivity, functioning and wellbeing. Providing quick access to help and support has been shown to be effective in helping to improve wellbeing.

As we deal with all the ups and downs of life today, mental health support is absolutely essential. By providing mental health recovery support, we're helping to create communities that are more resilient and inclusive for everyone.

Achieving our WELL Health-Safety Rating for Mental Health Recovery across our workspaces and retail centres is a rigorous process. It also goes hand in hand with our other initiatives to support mental health and wellbeing in our community. Like our Stockland CARE Foundation, which supports charity organisations that can help Stockland deliver on our aspiration to improve the health, wellbeing and education of Australian communities.

Through our partnership with our three charity partners ReachOut, Redkite and R U OK? we have helped to support people with the skills and resources to improve their mental wellbeing.

We believe we can positively change the way people and communities thrive. We will continue to stay ahead of mental health research and initiatives to help shape a better future together.

For help you can contact:

• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 – Free and confidential telephone counselling.
• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 –Offers 24/7 free counselling and support for people at risk of suicide, carers and bereaved.
• Lifeline: 13 11 14 –24-hour crisis support for people experiencing a crisis or suicidal distress
• Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511 – A free 24/7 phone line staffed by mental health professionals who can direct you to local support services.
• MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78 – 24/7 telephone support for men.
• Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 – A free, confidential online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.
• headspace: 1800 650 890 – A local mental health support service providing early intervention for 12 to 25 year olds.
• 13YARN: 13 92 76 – Free crisis counselling support for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Q Life: 1800 184 527 – Anonymous and free peer support for the LGBTIQ+ community.

 Sources: 

1. Black Dog Institute
2. Beyond Blue
3. Australian Government Productivity Commission