Supporting Employee Wellbeing Over Christmas: Why Mental Health Matters During the Festive Season

As workplaces prepare to wind down for the year, employers are being urged to ensure staff have the right mental health supports in place during the Christmas period, a time that is widely recognised as one of heightened stress, pressure and emotional load.

Rehab Management, one of Australia’s leading providers of workplace rehabilitation and wellbeing services, is encouraging organisations to take proactive steps to support their teams through this period. Together with its specialist psychology division, Senda Psychology, the company delivers evidence-based programs that help businesses strengthen mental health, resilience and workplace culture year-round.

Renee Thornton, CEO of Rehab Management, says many people feel pressure to present as cheerful or resilient during this period, even when they are struggling.

“For some employees, the end of the year is energising, but for others it can be overwhelming,” she said. “People may be dealing with family conflict, loneliness, financial pressures or simply the exhaustion that comes from an intense year. Employers can make a meaningful difference by ensuring that mental health support is visible, accessible and encouraged.”

Senda Psychology provides a wide range of mental health and organisational wellbeing programs, including clinical counselling, leadership coaching, manager assist services, psychosocial risk management and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Its services are designed to help workplaces move beyond reactive support, embedding psychological safety and proactive care into everyday practice.

Michelle Barratt, Head of Innovation & Psychological Services, Rehab Management, which includes Senda Psychology, says the key is reducing barriers to help.

“Providing an EAP is not enough on its own. Employees need to know how to access it, what it offers and that it’s genuinely safe to use,” she said. “Simple measures like communicating support options clearly, encouraging managers to check in with their teams and normalising conversations about stress can help staff feel more supported during what can be a difficult time.”

Five ways to prioritise mental health in your workplace this Christmas

• Re-share EAP and wellbeing contact details and remind staff that support is confidential and available over the holiday period.
• Equip managers to recognise and respond to early signs of distress.
• Offer flexibility where possible for employees managing personal or family challenges.
• Set realistic expectations around end-of-year workloads to reduce pressure.
• Encourage connection and check-ins before the break to maintain morale.

Thornton says small actions can have a lasting impact.

“When employees know their wellbeing is taken seriously, they feel safer, more valued and better able to engage at work. A little preparation now can prevent issues escalating over the holiday period.”

Rehab Management and Senda Psychology work with organisations nationally to deliver integrated workplace rehabilitation, psychological support and wellbeing programs that strengthen both people and performance.