Our State of Mind Logo

Our State of Mind

Australia's only nationally benchmarked study of mental wellbeing culture in the workplace. Returning in 2025.

1 in 5

At least 1 in 5 Australian workers currently experience a mental health condition.
[Beyond Blue]

$6.5B

Australian businesses lose over $6.5 billion each year by failing to provide early intervention/treatment.
[MHCA]

$10B

Stress-related workers’ compensation claims have doubled in recent years, costing over $10 billion each year.
[Medibank Private]

In collaboration with lead research partner, Ipsos Australia, Our State of Mind is a revolutionary, validated approach to understand the drivers of mental wellbeing in the workplace.

As businesses increasingly focus on programs, tools, and initiatives to support mental wellbeing in the workplace, it’s critical to understand the environments in which these programs are implemented—what Our State of Mind uncovers.

Creating mentally healthier workplaces is not only a net good for business, but  can save lives.

Feminine person walking down an office hallway in blue shirt and blue pants contentedly.

Mental wellbeing culture

Mental wellbeing culture covers the broader contextual and environmental factors within a workplace that influence people’s mental health and mental wellbeing. A positive mental wellbeing workplace culture is where you feel the organisation understands, cares about, and behaves in a way that supports the mental wellbeing of its employees.

Drivers of mental wellbeing culture

There are three key domains of mental wellbeing culture drivers: Leadership, Connection and Fulfillment. The research identifies the areas that workplaces should prioritise to drive positive mental wellbeing culture.

Psychosocial risk, safety, and hazard identification

Although Our State of Mind does not aim to specifically be a diagnostic for psychosocial risk, psychosocial safety, or psychosocial hazard identification, it may be used  as a tool to help uncover areas for further investigation.

Diagram: The three dimensions of mental wellbeing culture.
Room full of people listening to OSOM release its findings.

2023 report insights

· Almost two-thirds of Australian employees perceive a positive mental wellbeing culture in their workplace, compared to 14% who experience poor mental wellbeing culture.

·While encouraging overall, diverse employees, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees, tend to experience poorer mental wellbeing culture in the workplace. This is also true for employees who: are female, identify as LGBTIQA+ or have a physical or mental disability. There is work needed to improve the experiences of these cohorts of Australian employees.

· Those who have less control over their working environment also report a poorer mental wellbeing culture, particularly employees in non-management roles, larger organisations, or the public sector—of note, those in health and community services.

Statistic: "645 of employees feel their organisation has good mental wellbeing culture.

Drivers of mental wellbeing

Effective leadership is the strongest driver of mental wellbeing culture in the workplace while employees’ personal fulfillment is less influential.

Leaders in the organisation, at all levels, following through on promises, managing conflict effectively, encouraging new ideas, and role modelling have the greatest impact in forming positive mental wellbeing. Inclusion, diversity, and input into decision making are the strongest drivers to make an individual feel connected to the organisation. Only one personal fulfillment factor falls in the top 10 drivers.

Rank
Domain
Driver
1
Leadership
People in the organisation do what they say they will
2
Leadership
The organisation effectively manages conflict
3
Leadership
The organisation encourages and supports new ideas
4
Connection
The organisation actively encourages and supports inclusion and diversity
5
Leadership
I see leaders in the organisation as role models
6
Leadership
The organisation is always looking to do things better
7
Leadership
Peopleare aligned towards a common purpose and goal
8
Leadership
My values align with the values of the  organisation
9
Fulfillment
I generally look forward to work
10
Connection
My input in decision-making is valued by the organisation

OSOM 2025

Our State of Mind returns in 2025 in two key phases:

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Phase 1 · National Study

Phase 1 is an independent, national panel study with a sample of up to N=5,000 people. Participation is specifically  weighted to be representative of the Australian workforce.

The 2025 study will include greater granularity on industry and sector. This phase culminates in a public, national report that also tracks shifts in wellbeing culture between years.

If you'e a passionate organisation focussed on mental wellbeing, sponsorship is the ultimate way to support Our State of Mind.

let's chat sponsorship
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Phase 2 · Company Benchmarking

After the national study, Phase 2 allows organisations to participate in their own private survey with results benchmarked against the national study.

With privacy and anonymity of participants baked into the study, organisations can expect robust, highly detailed insights.

High-performing organisations are subsequently invited to share their best-practice initiatives as both a celebration of achievement and  as an opportunity for other organisations to learn from.

EXpress interest

Bigger and better than ever

PARTICIPATION
Our State of Mind 2025 aims to  increase participation across the country—more than doubling in participation from 2023.

ROBUST DATA AND INSIGHTS
Increased participation generates a greater data-set—maximising insights and usability for all businesses.

INCREASED COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE
Thousands of users around the country from myriad organisations and industries.

MENTAL WELLBEING
Armed with greater actionable insights, organisations can demonstrably improve the mental wellbeing of their people.

BUSINESS OUTCOMES
By improving the mental wellbeing of its people, organisations can expect increased productivity and profitability.

In addition to positive outcomes for people and community, organisations that wish to sponsor Our State of Mind will also benefit from:

INCREASED EXPOSURE
Tens-of-thousands of Australians will engage with Our State of Mind through the survey, organisation reports, national report and associated media.

BRAND ALIGNMENT
Values alignment with world-leading thought leaders including Richard Branson’s B Team, Virgin Unite, The B Team Australasia and more.

FIRST ACCESS
Sponsoring organisations have early access to the data and insights of the national report.  

included Benchmarking
Sponsoring organisations have automotic access to organisational benchmarking.  

Register now for "Our State of Mind"