Insights

Proactively Managing Psychological Risks in the Workplace

At Capture Culture, we understand the rising challenges employers face in managing workplace mental health. New data released has shown a 37% increase in mental health related workplace injury claims with the claim duration four time greater than that of all physical claims and on average almost 300% more expensive.

Over the past 12 months, we’ve supported 7 clients across 11 complex psychological claims. While our expertise has helped navigate these difficult cases, many were avoidable with robust systems and proactive people practices.

A Case for Proactive Intervention

In one recent case, a client engaged us after multiple psychological injury claims arose within a single department. Investigation revealed preventable psychosocial hazards: unclear job roles, high job demands, and inadequate manager training in recognising early signs of mental health distress.

By implementing tailored interventions—including revising job descriptions, training managers to recognise and address mental health concerns, and establishing clear support pathways—we helped the client reduce risk and improve team morale. Since then, they’ve reported zero new claims and a noticeable improvement in workplace culture.

Have You Reviewed Your Workplace Risks?

Psychological safety is as critical as physical safety. We encourage you to reflect on these key questions:

  • Are both physical and psychological risks in your workplace regularly reviewed?
  • Do your managers know how to recognise and respond to signs of mental health issues impacting work?
  • Have your return-to-work, WHS, and HR teams been trained to handle psychological risks effectively?

With the evolving landscape of workplace health and safety, managing psychological risks requires the combined skills of HR, WHS, and Injury Management professionals.

How Capture Culture Can Help

Capture Culture specialises in providing integrated solutions to support workplaces in:

  • Conducting holistic risk assessments for physical and psychological safety.
  • Training managers to recognise and manage mental health risks.
  • Enhancing organisational capability in WHS, HR, and Injury Management to address emerging risks.
  • Designing proactive systems to minimise the likelihood of claims.

By taking a proactive approach, you can not only prevent costly claims but also foster a supportive, resilient workplace culture.

Is It Time to Review Your Organisation’s Capability?

If your business hasn’t recently reviewed its capability to manage psychological risks, now is the time. Contact us today to discuss how we can support your team to address these challenges and build a healthier, safer workplace for all.

Subscribe to our email newsletter to receive the latest news and updates