Preview #1 - Creating safe spaces for mental health conversations with Olivia Shields, Nurse Manager

Preview episode 2 of the Thrive Podcast series. In this episode, Olivia Shields, Nurse Manager, shares practical strategies to help listeners confidently ask, "Are you OK?" and create safe, supportive spaces for mental health conversations.

Listen to or watch Olivia's insights and inspiring reflections as we continue fostering a culture of care, support, and connection at Monash Health.

Please take care when sharing links with others. The Thrive Podcast series is intended for Monash Health employees only.

Episode Transcript

Olivia Shields (00:00):
I actually have had, for a really long time, put
my own mental health on hold,and push it to the back of my
mind, which I think is not a,that's not a situation that only
myself have found myself in. Ithink as health professionals,
you know, we make the worstpatients. And, basically, I

(00:23):
started focusing in more on mymental health when my body told
me I needed to. So for a reallylong time, I didn't feel like I
had a safe space at work to talkabout mental health. That was
not with this organisation.
That's from years in my past.And when I was having a really

(00:43):
hard time mentally at work andit showed, I was not met with
kindness or support or safety.And I think that experience
really really colored my ownthoughts about myself, my own
mental health, and also myability to do my job. I really
doubted myself and thought, youknow, perhaps management is not

(01:04):
for me because that was thefeedback that I got. However,
now that I'm with Monash Health,I have been given the grace and
the kindness and the safety toexpress when I'm having a bad
day or a bad week, and that'sall through the support of the

(01:24):
organisation.
So, you know, my own triggers,for example, are when I am not
sleeping very well, that's whenI know that I can, you know,
speak to my boss. I can do aworking from home day where I
can actually ask for what Ineed.