'READY' to talk about mental health?

Are you considering telling someone at work about your mental health? Then you may benefit from a new app designed by SIRA and Sydney University.

SIRA has worked closely with the University's Brain and Mind Centre researchers to design and fund the final stage of READY app.

READY app uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques and real-life experience of workplace recovery to help individuals decide whether they should disclose their mental health issues to someone.

SIRA’s funding enabled READY to move out of the research prototype phase and into a secure web application as part of the NSW Mentally Healthy Workplaces Strategy.

The app uses insights from people with lived experience of mental health recovery in the workplace.

Registered psychologist and SIRA recovery@work reference group member Michelle Barratt said taking this evidence-based approach can result in a positive and inclusive customer experience.

"This is a great resource designed to support people who are trying to work out if, when, or how to disclose mental health concerns to their employer," Ms Barratt said.

Vincent Fairfax Fellow in Ethical Leadership and SIRA recovery@work reference group member Keith Govias says the app is a great new addition to supporting the community.

”We are beginning to understand more about the challenges that many feel when considering talking to a work colleague or manager about their mental health,” Mr Govias said.

“The READY? app is a tool that will help inform you about the decision to tell people in your workplace about your mental health concerns.”

SIRA has introduced the READY app under the recovery@work component of the NSW Mentally Healthy Workplaces Strategy which aims to increase employers' awareness, understanding, and capability to create mentally healthy workplaces. The app will soon become part of the recovery@work toolkit.

You can learn more about the READY app and recovery@work programs on the SIRA website.