When Melbourne GP Grant Blashki sits down with patients who have mental health concerns, many ask the same question - should they tell people at work?

“It’s a common conversation with patients when they have a mental health issue, how much to talk about it with their employers,” says Blashki, also a lead clinical adviser for mental health and wellbeing support organisation Beyond Blue. He’s keen to emphasise that there’s no ‘one size fits all’ answer.

“Really, it’s quite a nuanced conversation,” Blashki says.

That nuanced conversation has been happening more frequently since the pandemic began – in part because people are now talking more openly about mental health issues. However, not all workplaces are willing to listen.

“The stigma has reduced a lot in the community, but you still might have an employer who’s not very helpful or is going to put a spanner in the works for your promotion,” says Blashki.

By law, an employer must respect your right to privacy, unless there is good reason to believe your condition compromises workplace safety. This means that how much you disclose to your boss or colleagues – if anything – is up to you. According to Blashki, both the context and the nature of the mental health concern should be factored in.

‘You may find that your employer is actually really quite helpful and really looking to find a good solution.’

Grant Blashki

“It may be something more minor that you feel you can deal with in your job, and you don’t want to disclose things. Or you might decide: ‘Hey, there are great benefits if I tell them what’s going on. My employer can make some changes, and maybe it will stop some of the rumours about my performance.’ And of course, it can change the culture of an organisation,” Blashki says.

At the Beyond-Blue-affiliated website Heads Up, numerous resources are available for both employers and employees. The program, supported by the Mentally Healthy Workplace Alliance, asks business leaders to start taking action to help struggling staff members.