Fostering a mentally healthy workplace: Q&A with TAL's new Head of Mental Health
This week Glenn Baird was appointed as TAL's inaugural head of mental health. He speaks with Industry Moves about the excitement that he holds for his new role, offers some advice for organisations to stay "ahead of the curve" when fostering a mentally healthy workplace, and tells us about his progression from professional basketball player to workplace mental health advocate.
This week Glenn Baird was appointed as TAL's inaugural head of mental health. He speaks with Industry Moves about the excitement that he holds for his new role, offers some advice for organisations to stay "ahead of the curve" when fostering a mentally healthy workplace, and tells us about his progression from professional basketball player to workplace mental health advocate.
What are you most looking forward to about your new role?
Having spent the last 14 years in direct services provision, I am looking forward to having an impact on a larger scale. With the support from the Health Services team, I am excited for the opportunities, and the possibilities, around how TAL can play a part in improving mental health and the overall wellbeing of individuals.
It was said that you'll be working internally and externally, with both the employees and customers, in this role. In what ways will you support the staff?
Whilst I haven't gained a full understanding of all the offerings to TAL's people at present, I do hope I can complement the existing services in place. I think the simple fact of having someone in the role thinking about mental health will be beneficial and if I can introduce some new offerings, I look forward to how they will be received. Over time, I hope that my role will help TAL's people to observe how we practically address mental health on a day to day basis.
In your opinion, what are the key elements that organisations should consider in order to promote a mentally healthy workplace?
In my experience, across a variety of sectors, staff engagement is required at all levels. Another critical factor is moving away from the 'reactive' mindset and into a 'proactive' mindset. Mental health, and trying to be mentally healthy, is something we should be looking at in the same way that we look at physical health. Workplaces that adopt this approach will be ahead of the curve.
What has been one of your proudest moments in your career to date?
While working for the OzHelp Foundation I developed the Tradies Tune Up (TTU) program. This is a physical and mental health screening program delivered to construction workers in their work environment. Taking approximately 20 minutes, these sessions provided physical and mental health support to a population that traditionally has poor help-seeking behaviours. This award winning program is still running today and has been adapted to a variety of settings.
As a former professional basketball player, what lead you down the path of workplace mental health support?
It really came down to an opportunity following basketball. Once entering the space, I saw a glaring need to be more preventative, like when I was a professional athlete and always thinking about ensuring I was doing the right thing to prevent injury/illness.
What's the best piece of advice that you've received?
I like to think that most of my work comes from a strengths base, and a former clinical supervisor of mine would always remind me of people's ability to cope with adversity. As part of that approach, I do like to find the strengths in people, teams, and workplaces to use as avenues of change.
Who has had the biggest influence on your life/career so far?
Both Mark Quinn and Michael Durrant, who are psychologists that have provided ongoing supervision and training over the course of my career. They've both played a significant role in developing my skills in the counselling room, while also assisting in my development of applying psychology skills to a variety of settings. However, my wife and my children have the most influence on my life.
What was your very first job?
My first full time job was playing basketball for the Canberra Cannons...does that count? While studying in the U.S. I worked for Nike in a program aimed at engaging disadvantaged youths into a variety of sports.
How do you maintain a work/life balance?
My family and I like to be very active in the outdoors, we try hard to stay socially connected with our friends and family, but probably the most important for me is finding some time during the week to switch off mentally, otherwise my mind won't stop.
