Opinion: Parliaments must do more to protect mental health of MPs
It is likely that 20 per cent of our parliamentarians will experience a mental health issue. This is not because they are any different to the rest of us. It is because they are just like the rest of us. In Australia about one in five people will experience mental ill-health.
John's time in politics was a fulfilling and exciting part of our lives. Being a politician is a job like no other. But that isn’t all good. The price you pay for the privilege, opportunities and experiences is agreeing to a bizarre life and workplace – one that is often not good for your mental health.West Australian Premier Geoff Gallop stunned his state when he resigned in 2006 and retired immediately from politics, announcing he needed to recover from his depression.
There is no official leave for anything – holidays, illness or family matters. The hours are completely unregulated. A good politician will work every day and most nights. The bigger the electorate, the harder the work required to properly serve the people who elected you. Workplaces in NSW are required to protect their workers against harm to their health, safety and welfare through eliminating or minimising risks. This includes mental health risks. Psychological risks are complex. We bring our unique circumstances that influence our mental health – our genetics, our personality, and our life experiences – to our work each day. But workplaces must ensure they do all they can to keep their workers psychologically safe.
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