Almost one in four regional workers say their mental health is worse than at any other point in their working lives, while nearly one-third are considering leaving their jobs.

The figures from Allianz Australia highlight a growing mental health gap between regional and metropolitan workplaces, with regional workers more likely to claim mental health compensation and take longer to recover from mental injuries.

Headspace Shepparton IPS supervisor and community awareness co-ordinator Naynika Bagrecha said regional workers faced additional socioeconomic barriers, including transport, housing and the rising cost of living.

“It's a catch-22. You need a car to have a job, but you need a job to actually buy even a used car,” she said.

“I think people, especially in regional areas, are starting from three steps back.”

Headspace Shepparton work and study specialist Neha Samar said regional workplaces also faced challenges understanding and supporting employees experiencing mental health difficulties.

“When you use the word mental health, it’s seen as something that ‘can’t be fixed’,” she said.

“But mental health barriers ... could just mean that someone needs a small adjustment to do their work at the best capacity.”

Ms Samar said the nature of regional workplaces could place additional pressure on employees.

“Smaller workplaces, digital workplaces, it could create that extra pressure on someone to do a bigger job than what a bigger team could do because of staff shortages,” she said.

The Allianz research found 61 per cent of surveyed regional employees did not know how to access mental health support through their workplace, while nearly three-quarters had never used workplace mental health support.

Ms Bagrecha said employee assistance programs, which provide free short-term counselling, were not always available to workers in smaller or family-run businesses.

Even where the programs were offered, she said a lack of awareness and their limitations could prevent employees from getting the help they needed.

“They’re (EAPs) great, but they’re not long term,” she said.

Ms Samar said greater awareness and education among employers could help close the gap, with early conversations helping prevent problems from escalating.

“Prevention is better than intervention. Employers don’t have to wait until things go really bad,” she said.

“It’s as easy as not leaving the ‘Are you okay?’ to one day a year.”

She said managers did not need to be mental health specialists to create a supportive workplace, but should feel comfortable checking in with employees and making adjustments where needed.

With regional communities already competing to attract and retain workers, Ms Samar said supporting employee wellbeing could help increase worker longevity.

“Given Shepparton is an ageing population, if mental health is not considered in the workplace, you are not going to see employees that will stay in your company,” she said.

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