Mindspace, a mental health and wellness programme launched today

Today we're thrilled to announce the launch of Mindspace, a movement for change in the mental health and wellbeing of people in the professional consulting sector here in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Professional services work is by nature complex and non-routine. That's what makes it interesting and stimulating. It brings out the best of our problem-solving skills to collaboratively tackle challenges with the clients and communities we serve. The sense of wellbeing we get from being healthily engaged in purposeful work is part of what attracts people to our industry. The flip side is that the pressure created by those same complex conditions can become unhealthy and unsustainable.

Fluctuating workload, the perceived expectation of being available around the clock, and long-standing cultural expectations that people working in professional services will always come through in a crisis can combine to create unhealthy pressure. In the ongoing competition for great talent, our industry has an opportunity to differentiate in this area, to be the place where our mental health is truly understood and nourished.

ACE chief executive Helen Davidson says Mindspace is designed to help our sector understand how workplaces and the work we do influence wellbeing.

''Together we can look at what interventions are most effective and set some real measurable targets in this space.''

''It's also a place for live conversation, guidance, training and structure to support and enable our members to make a change in the mental health and wellbeing of our people. Because when our people are thriving, our sector is thriving,'' says Helen. 

Members are encouraged to visit mindspace.nz which features a set of comprehensive tools and resources as well as stories from other workplaces in looking at the mental health and wellbeing of their staff. 

Mindspace is governed by a five-person steering committee made up of passionate CEs, directors and owners who have put their hands up to be the driving force for change. The committee consists of Dr Penny Kneebone, Dr Emily Afoa, Tony Matthews and Tony Harrison. 

ACE would like to acknowledge and thank the Business Leaders' Health and Safety Forum and Psychologist Dr Hillary Bennett for their partnership and input into the programme.

More information

For more information visit mindspace.nz or contact ACE Policy and Programmes Manager Julia Byers on [email protected].