The Rise of the Chief Psychological Health Officer

In this episode, Mary Conquest speaks with David Heap, a leading organizational and coaching psychologist with over 30 years of professional experience. He's a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has a BSc in Psychology and an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management.<br>David helps safety professionals understand why organizations are increasingly adding a Chief Psychological Health Officer (CPH) to the boardroom. He explains how approaches to workplace mental wellbeing have changed over recent years - especially since the global pandemic.<br>But how does this affect safety management? David explores where a CPH could sit within an organizational structure and which backgrounds are best suited for this role. He argues workplace psychological health and safety should be an inter-departmental concern and that the appointment of a CPH shouldn’t diminish collective responsibility.<br>David insists that workplace mental wellbeing initiatives (including appointing a CPH) should result from genuine concern for the workforce - and not be attention-grabbing activities defunded in 18 months.<br>He wants organizations to holistically assess the workplace environment to prevent poor psychological health and focus on boosting positive wellbeing in the workforce. Proactivity at a systematic level is crucial - and safety professionals can play a key role in this transition.<br>David’s coaching consultancy:https://www.insightmc.com.au/<br>The National Workplace Initiative in Australia:National Workplace Initiative | Have Your Say - National Mental Health Commission<br>David Heap on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidheap/<br>Safety Labs is created by Slice, the only safety knife on the market with a finger-friendly® blade. Find us at www.sliceproducts.com<br>If you have any questions, please email us at safetylabs@sliceproducts.com