Pets reduce stress and anxiety

Studies show that patting your pet can have a calming effect on pet owners. Stroking your pets can reduce stress and anxiety and just being nearby can benefit you. A US study found when people completed a stressful task they felt better when their pets were with them rather than having a family member or friend close by.

Pets boost your fitness

Man’s best friend is also man’s best fitness trainer. One study found that dog owners who regularly walk their dogs were less likely to become obese than non-dog owners. Is there a better motivator then an eager pup wanting to get outdoors?

Pets reduce feelings of isolation or loneliness

Your four-legged friend can chase off those feelings of loneliness. Pets keep you company and can be a source of comfort. One study found that owners can receive just as much social support from their pet as a family member, and that on average pet owners were less lonely than non-pet owners.

Pets can boost mood and self-esteem

Could you have a bigger fan than your pet? Pets think you’re the best and they show it – coming home to a pet who is excited to see you is an instant mood booster. Offering no judgments, unconditional love and acceptance, it’s no wonder that pets raise our self-esteem.

While pets are great pals, they are a big responsibility and require a big commitment so be sure you are ready to love them for their entire life.

STEPS offers support for people experiencing mental health issues. We are here to help, call us on 1300 766 962.

Get your zzz’s

Sleep plays a key role in both your physical and mental wellbeing. A continued lack of sleep can negatively affect many functions, including your immune system and learning and decision-making abilities.

Sleep needs vary for different people, however in general The Sleep Health Foundation recommends 7 – 9 hours of sleep per night for people between the ages of 18 and 64, and 7 – 8 hours for people over the age of 65.

Get active

Ramp up the exercise and feel the benefits. Exercise can improve your mood thanks to the body’s release of endorphins, and regular exercise can boost your energy and reduce your risk of developing health conditions and diseases.

Get your greens in

You are what you eat! So ensure you’re getting essential vitamins and minerals by eating two fruit and five vegetables daily. Steer away from processed foods and go for whole grains containing complex carbohydrates and leafy greens when possible.

Get outdoors

Soak up some sun and some nature. Vitamin D is essential for maintaining healthy bones, and the UVs from sunlight is the best source. Between 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure per day should be enough to maintain your vitamin D levels; however, the time can vary depending on your skin type, the time of year and the time of day, so be mindful of sun safety.

Just spending time outside can have a positive effect on your well-being. Studies have shown that being in nature can help reduce stress and boost mood. Get outdoors and have some fun; take a walk or get gardening.

Get social

Be sure to schedule in some friend time, as being with friends is fun and can help improve your wellbeing. Socialising with others can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness, and spending time with supportive friends can boost your mood and self-esteem.

Get friendly with animals

Pal around with your pet for an instant mood booster! Studies have found that the simple act of patting an animal can reduce stress and anxiety. If you don’t have the time or can’t take on the responsibility of a pet, volunteering at your local animal shelter is great way to interact with some furry friends while also helping animals in need.

We all experience stress, anxiety and low mood sometimes, however, if these feelings become overwhelming or persist make sure you talk your doctor.

The expo showcased support services from the Sunshine Coast region, along with businesses from the health sector in a bid to promote the benefits health living has on our mental wellbeing.

STEPS Social & Community Manager Liza Scriven said the expo was about motivating the local community to take steps towards a healthier life.

“Not being active and poor eating often leads to general feeling of unwellness that effects the way we feel mentally. Breaking that cycle can be difficult. We’re hoping that some of the people who have come along today have been motivated to take charge of their health, and of course we’ll be here to support them on their journey”.

A recent report published by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists found the life expectancy of people with mental illness was up to 30% shorter than that of the general Australian population.

Liza said that physical health is often overlooked when treating mental illness. “Being kind to our bodies is important for everyone, and is the first step towards a healthy mind”.

STEPS Community Services work with individuals to achieve holistic pathways to mental health recovery. Find out more about our services.

But our children’s future is also very stressful for parents, and it was this cause of stress that led to the establishment of STEPS Group Australia 26 years ago.  Brought together by their concern for the lack of services available to their children, one group of parents decided to do something about it.  And so STEPS was formed to help school leavers with a disability make the transition from school to work as smooth as possible.

All these years later STEPS have grown to become a national organisation offering a range of specialist employment services, training programs, and social and community initiatives.  But supporting school leavers take that important step into employment remains high on the STEPS agenda.

Today STEPS work with teenagers with a wide range of disabilities in there final year of school to help build the skills and experience needed for post school employment. STEPS provide preparatory support ranging from job readiness workshops, to assistance with gaining work experience, school based traineeships and apprenticeships

STEPS Employment Consultant Kelly Paton, who works with schools and students to meet each student’s individual needs and aspirations, said the smooth transition from school to work was critical.

“Introducing students early to what the “real life” looks like rather than simply letting kids finish school and figure it out for themselves makes a huge difference to a school leavers’ immediate future, which resonates into their longer term prospects”, Ms Paton said.

“Preparing for the transition in advance increases students’ skills and confidence and plays a crucial role in ensuring young individuals reach their career goals”.

If your child has a disability and is about to enter into their final year of high school study, or you want to know more about how we can help young people find work,  call us today on 1300 078 377 or click here to find out more Eligible School Leavers.

While the baby boomers happily spent a lifetime working with one or a handful of businesses, the average time spent with a single employer is now only a little over 4 years, and that is dropping fast.

As the next generations ascend the workforce employers can expect a much higher turnover of staff as our Gen Y’s and the generations following embark on a continual search for greener pastures.

This is stark news for businesses that are left paying the cost of ongoing recruitment and training of new staff.

There is however one untapped workforce providing a solution for business owners and employers.

People with a disability not only bring a range of different skills and experiences to the workplace, but also make a good business case for improving the bottom line.

The Australian government reports that employing a person with a disability can cost businesses as much as 13% less than other employees due to reduced rates of absenteeism and increased loyalty to employers.

Studies have even shown that people with a disability are less at risk of having an accident in the workplace with workers compensation costs at 4% lower than other workers.

But while employing people with a disability provides financial gains to business and enriches workplaces, attitudes of employers have a long way to go.

STEPS Employment Solutions Manager Lee-Anne Whalley said there were many preconceived notions about hiring people with disabilities that are simply not correct.

“Lots of employers we speak to believe employing someone with a disability is going to cost them in productivity or in workplace modifications, but that’s not the case”, Ms Whalley said.

“People with a disability can be just as productive, if not more productive in the workplace.  And as far as workplace modifications go yes, some workplaces do require changes to suit the individual, but there is government assistance available and the changes made often benefit the company as a whole”.

Latest survey results from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that while 2.2million Australians of working age have a disability, only 30% of those people will gain employment.

“The biggest barrier faced by people with a disability when looking for work is the stereotypes that still exist around disabilities’, Ms Whalley said.

If you would like to learn more about employing someone with a disability please contact us on employment@stepsgroup.com.au or 1300 078 377.

STEPS Care for Carers organised the expos and were joined by more than 54 stall holders who turned up to help raise awareness of the services available to carers.

The theme of this year’s Carers Week was focused on carers taking time out to take a break, encouraging carers to look after their own well being in addition to the wellbeing of those they care for.

STEPS Carer for Carers Group Coordinator Beth Boorer said the events were a huge success and hoped that the information shared will help carers to get the support they need.

“The aim of our program is to support carers to care for themselves while maintaining a loving relationship with the person they are caring for.”

Carers Australia define carers as people who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or other drug issue or who are frail aged.

There are currently 2.7million unpaid carers in Australia, many of whom often need help themselves in finding services for the person they are caring for, or indeed support for themselves as they tackle the challenging role of providing care to someone close to them.

“The health and wellbeing of a carer directly impacts the person they are caring for which makes it so important that our carers are looked after”, Ms Boorer said.

Details of a new trial trial aimed at improving job opportunities for people suffering from mental illness were revealed at the annual national Jobs Australia conference in Sydney this month.

The trial will be held across multiple, randomly chosen sites across Australia and will involve employment specialists working in collaboration with mental health teams to provide individualised support for mentally ill jobseekers.

Mental Health Program Manager for Steps Group Australia, Liza Scriven, announced the trial at the recent conference to employment industry leaders from around the country.

Ms Scriven, who was the first employment specialist in Queensland to partner with Qld Mental Health treating teams to deliver targeted employment solutions, said the evidence to date for co-located employment service models was irrefutable.

“It can be very difficult for those suffering from a mental illness to get and then hold down a job when the nature of mental illness is often cyclic and psychotic episodes are common”, Liza said.

“I truly believe that working with mental health treating staff to find work for people with a mental illness is absolutely fundamental to gaining sustainable, and importantly meaningful, work”, she said.

“An holistic, supportive approach provides jobseekers with greater confidence leading to improved independence and a happier, more inclusive life”, she said.

Steps will be promoting Mental Health Awareness training and Mental Health First Aid training throughout Mental Health Week from the 7^th to the 12^th of October.

When she connected with STEPS Mental Health Advisor Liza, through the Sunshine Coast based LinkIn program, things began to take a different track for Sari.

Liza began working with Sari to create a pathway to employment. After working with Sari and helping her through a number of personal issues, Liza found Sari work last year as a cleaner for a local office block. “Liza has been amazing,” Sari said. “I remember when she called me to tell me she had found the cleaning job. I was not sure I could do it. But she was great and so supportive. “She even took me to work at 6 am on my first day and stayed with me while I worked to check I was ok. She stayed with me as long as I needed and until I was confident I could do it,” Sari said.

“STEPS have been great support. They gave me a real purpose and a reason to get out of bed in the morning. They really gave me a chance to re-enter the real world.”

STEPS has provided Sari and others with appropriate support through a partnership and program with Mental Health Service, Southern Cluster, Sunshine Coast Wide Bay Health Services District, which came into effect in February 2009. Mental Health Service, Southern Cluster, Sunshine Coast Wide Bay Health Services District’s occupational therapist, Elise Hampton, said the integration of the employment consultant with the support team had proven very successful. “Sourcing employment has proven to be a very powerful and successful treatment for people with mental illnesses,””Elise said. “We have seen many case studies of people who are really going forward thanks to this program.

The Centre will be responsible for up-skilling of STEPS staff and introducing a “best practice” model to ensure STEPS delivers the best service possible to those participants living with mental illness.

The launch of the Centre follows the successful “Sunshine Coast Integrated Employment Project” run in partnership between STEPS and Queensland Health on the Sunshine Coast. The project involved co-locating a psychiatric-specific employment consultant within two mental health units to be part of treating teams. During the course of the project, STEPS’ Nambour site was found to be the highest performing employment service provider, and commended for their proactive approach to empowering people living with severe mental illness access employment and  educational goals.

Since the finalisation of the formal project, the relationship between STEPS and Queensland Health continues to strengthen, with three co-located psychiatric specific Employment Pathway Mentors now working with Queensland Health.

Similar agreements have been formalised in Wide Bay, opening the door for a similar service in Hervey Bay, Maryborough and rural Bundaberg. Expressions of interests to work in other regional areas where STEPS runs disability employment services have been successful. Nikki de Jonge, STEPS’ longest serving staff member, has been appointed STEPS Mental Health Service Manager. “STEPS acknowledge that in excess of 50% of our current clients have identified as having a mental illness or impairment,” said Nikki. “We also recognise that in order to give our clients the best service possible, it’s essential that we up-skill the organisation.”