Mental health awareness in the workplace is no longer optional. Australian organisations have clear obligations to manage psychosocial risks and provide a safe working environment. Yet many businesses struggle with one key detail: what to include in a workplace mental health awareness video.
A well-structured video can educate, reduce stigma and provide clear guidance without overwhelming your team. The goal is not to diagnose or replace professional advice. It is to build awareness, clarify responsibilities and create confidence around conversations that are often avoided.
If you’re planning mental health training content, knowing what to include is key. An effective video should cover things like mental health basics, early warning signs and risk factors. Each of these elements works together to create training that is balanced, practical and compliant for Australian workplaces.
Below, we discuss the core elements that make this type of training effective, relevant and compliant in Australian workplaces.
What to Include in a Workplace Mental Health Awareness Video: An Overview
A workplace mental health awareness video should cover key points in a clear, relatable and engaging way:
- Define mental health and wellbeing – explain what it is and highlight that it affects everyone
- Explain why it matters at work – including impacts on performance, communication and health and safety
- Highlight early warning signs – such as changes in behaviour, withdrawal or reduced productivity
- Outline common risk factors – like high workloads, poor work–life balance and lack of support
- Emphasise the role of managers and leaders – in fostering open conversations and providing early support
- Show where to get help – including internal options (HR, EAP) and external professional services
Keeping it concise and practical helps ensure the message is easy to understand and more likely to stick.
Start with a Clear Explanation of Mental Health in the Workplace
Before addressing procedures or responsibilities, your video should define what mental health means in a work context. Many employees associate mental health only with severe conditions, which can create misunderstanding.
A strong introduction should explain:
- The difference between mental health and mental illness
- The concept of psychosocial hazards
- How workplace factors can influence wellbeing
By framing mental health within everyday work situations, you help employees recognise that it is relevant to everyone.
Pro Tip: Use simple, relatable examples from your own workplace to make mental health concepts easier for staff to understand and remember.
Show Why Mental Health Is a Workplace and Safety Issue
A strong training video should explain why mental health awareness matters for organisations, not just individuals. Poor mental health can affect concentration, decision-making, teamwork and overall productivity. It may also increase the risk of workplace errors or accidents, particularly in safety-sensitive industries.
The business impact is significant. Globally, depression and anxiety alone lead to around 12 billion lost workdays every year, costing the global economy roughly US$1 trillion in productivity losses.
Pro Tip: Include real-world statistics or case studies to make the organisational impact tangible and emphasise why staff engagement matters.
Help Employees Recognise Early Signs of Struggle
Another important element in workplace training videos is teaching employees how to recognise early warning signs. Many people don’t realise a colleague is struggling until the situation becomes serious.
A well-designed video can demonstrate common indicators, such as:
- Sudden changes in behaviour or mood
- Withdrawal from team conversations or meetings
- Increased absenteeism or presenteeism
- Declining work quality or missed deadlines
- Visible stress, fatigue or irritability
Pro Tip: Training videos work best when they show realistic workplace interactions rather than listing symptoms on a slide. Scenario-based learning helps staff recognise these signs in real life.
Highlight Workplace Risk Factors That Affect Wellbeing
Training content should also explain that mental health challenges often have identifiable workplace causes. These are known as psychosocial risks, and they can significantly affect employee wellbeing if not addressed.
Common workplace risk factors include:
- Excessive workloads or unrealistic deadlines
- Poor work–life balance
- Lack of role clarity or unclear expectations
- Workplace conflict or poor leadership support
- Job insecurity or organisational change
Pro Tip: Use short vignettes or role-play examples to show how these risk factors appear in everyday work scenarios. It helps employees connect theory with practice.
Demonstrate How Leaders Can Support Mental Wellbeing
One of the most valuable parts of a workplace mental health training video is showing leaders what supportive management actually looks like.
Managers play a key role in shaping workplace culture and psychological safety. Employees who feel supported by leadership are far more likely to feel safe discussing mental health concerns and seeking help.
Consider the following example training scenarios:
- A manager checking in privately with a team member showing signs of stress
- A leader encouraging open discussions about workload and wellbeing
- A supervisor responding calmly when an employee raises a concern
Pro Tip: Training videos that include short dialogue examples can be particularly effective. They model how to have supportive conversations and remove uncertainty for managers.
Clearly Direct Employees to Available Support
Finally, a workplace mental health awareness video should end with practical guidance on where employees can get help. Education is important, but training is most effective when it leads to action.
Typical support pathways highlighted in training videos include:
- Speaking with a manager or HR representative
- Accessing an employee assistance program (EAP)
- Contacting external mental health services or counselling providers
- Using company wellbeing programs or resources
Pro Tip: Choose training content that allows you to customise the final section with your organisation’s own support channels. This ensures the message is practical and relevant for your workforce.
Final Thoughts
Understanding what to include in a workplace mental health awareness video helps you move beyond generic messaging. Clear definitions, practical scenarios, legal context and accessible support pathways create a well-rounded piece of training.
When structured correctly, this type of video builds awareness, reduces stigma and supports compliance under Australian workplace health and safety requirements. Most importantly, it contributes to a culture where employees feel supported rather than isolated.
Ready to Develop a Workplace Mental Health Awareness Video That Connects?
At Channel 1 Creative Media, we work with Australian organisations to create professional, scenario-based mental health training videos tailored to your policies and workforce. From script writing and casting to production and post-production, we ensure your message is clear, respectful and aligned with your compliance obligations.Call us on 0387430488 or visit our Contact Us page to discuss how we can help you create mental health awareness content that informs, supports and strengthens your workplace culture.