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ABS data reveals that a quarter of younger Australians live with a chronic mental health condition. But with mentorship, they can achieve professional success.
Chronic disease is often typecast as an older people’s issue, but a report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that 25 per cent of Australians aged 15 to 44 suffer from chronic mental and behavioural conditions. In total, 11.6 million Australians are estimated to live with mental illness.
With individuals aged 15 to 44 making up a substantial proportion of the workforce, this epidemic has substantial economic ramifications for large and small businesses alike.
According to atWork Australia: “For many people, their condition and resulting treatment may prompt them to reconsider next steps in their career. Moreover, changes in physical capability, mental capability, or the length of time away from work, may make returning to a previous role more difficult.”
For business owners concerned about the productivity of their team members, however, atWork has good news: support and mentorship can help young workers with mental health conditions thrive.
For example, 20-year-old Matthew, a Brisbane resident living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD), revealed that mentorship helped “employment feel more manageable” and enabled him to find work that capitalises on his skills and experience.
With young agents uniquely placed to offer real estate agencies a digital advantage, supporting all young agents to reach their potential is critical to overall business success.
Concerningly, however, mental health continues to be disregarded by employers, with research finding that only 50 per cent of Australian employers consider mental wellbeing as important as workplace performance.
With negative mental health directly linked to poorer workplace performance, employers who refuse to take mental health seriously are ironically shooting themselves in the foot. This is a particular risk in real estate, which is famous for its 24/7 work mindset and high burnout rates.
Luckily for real estate professionals, the industry also has an established tradition of mentorship which puts leaders in a prime position to offer up-and-coming agents vital support.
From teaching newcomers how to strike an optimal work/life balance, to honing their resilience and providing accountability, real estate mentors can teach young agents essential skills.
As the chair of the Corporate Mental Health Alliance (CMHAA), Steven Worrall previously shared with REB: “When mental health is good, people are productive, happy, healthy, and can manage life’s challenges and stresses.”
“The CMHAA calls upon all organisations to prioritise employee mental health as a core part of their business strategy,” Mr Worrall stated.
