Building Stronger Communities | Saturday 31 October 2026

For the final Saturday of Mental Health Month, Building Stronger Communities turned its attention to the workplace — where everyday conditions can have a real effect on our wellbeing.

Throughout October, we explored mental health across generations, disability and belonging, pregnancy and parenthood, and isolation in the trucking community. Different experiences, connected by the importance of feeling valued, understood and supported.

This final episode asked: What does it look like to move beyond awareness and take practical action?

🎧 Listen to the recordings

Betty shares her story

Betty shares her lived experience of schizophrenia, creativity and contribution. Her story reminds us that every person has talents, interests and experiences beyond a diagnosis.

What does support look like at work?

Michelle explores how managers can respond when an employee seems to be struggling — with curiosity, respect and a willingness to discuss what support may help.

Mind Maze props created by Betty for OMAW – EXHIBITOR AT THE WORK HEALTH SAFETY SHOW

https://www.ourmindsatwork.com.au/mind-maze

🧠 Brain Energy: Confidence to have the conversation

In this replay from 5 September, Luke Evans explores the confidence it can take to check in with someone, especially when their answer is unexpected.

💬 Awareness needs to lead to action

Posters, wellbeing days and mental health training can help start conversations. But awareness alone cannot address excessive workloads, bullying, poor communication or a lack of support.

A mentally healthier workplace also looks at the conditions people work in. It listens to employees, identifies psychosocial risks and takes practical steps to prevent harm. Workers should not have to rely on personal resilience to cope with an unhealthy work environment.

Prevention can begin with clearer expectations, genuine consultation, addressing harmful behaviour and listening to workers’ concerns.

🤝 What support can look like at work

When a usually reliable employee’s behaviour or performance changes, it can be tempting to jump to conclusions. A manager might instead begin with a simple, respectful question:

“I’ve noticed things seem a little different lately. How are you going?”

A genuine conversation may reveal pressures outside work, a health issue or something about the job itself that needs attention. Where safe and practical, small adjustments — such as a changed start time, a roster adjustment or temporary changes to how tasks are shared — may help someone continue working effectively.

Managers do not need to become counsellors, and employees should not feel pressured to share a diagnosis or private details. The aim is to understand what support may help, while respecting privacy and considering the needs of the wider team.

Support for an individual also needs to sit alongside action on workplace risks. Flexibility and check-ins matter, but so do reasonable workloads, adequate support and respectful behaviour.

🌱 Carrying the conversation forward

The message from Mental Health Month is one we can carry into every part of life: prevention starts before crisis.

At work, that means creating places where people feel safe to speak, where concerns are taken seriously and where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and belong.

Building Stronger Communities airs on SWR 99.9 FM, Sydney’s West — where everyone has a place and every story matters.

🎧 Listen, Share and Join the Conversation

Missed the program? Catch up with our individual interviews and segments above.

If a conversation resonates with you, share it with someone who might benefit from hearing it.

📻 Building Stronger Communities
Saturdays | 8:00 am – 10:00 am
SWR 99.9 FM | Western Sydney

💚 Where everyone has a place and every story matters.

Next week we’ll focus on ovarian cancer awareness, support for women and families, and Ovarian Cancer Australia’s Workout 4 Women campaign. In our second hour, Piper, Bethanie and Hamama will join me to celebrate Diwali and the rich cultural traditions that bring Western Sydney communities together.