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Before Blue: Early intervention mental health support program

Developed by Beyond Blue, Before Blue is a successful early intervention mental health program available to all Australian Public Service agencies.


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A Deed of Standing Offer has been established between Comcare and Beyond Blue. Any agencies wishing to participate in the Before Blue program, can do so by issuing a Notice of Inclusion to Beyond Blue.

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What is Before Blue

Before Blue provides a structured early intervention program of support across multiple weeks, offering up to 8 sessions with a dedicated coach. It focuses on practical skill-building towards a goal with weekly progress monitoring to stay on track.

Before Blue can complement existing workplace support services, such as Employee Assistant Programs, that typically offer brief single issue focussed counselling sessions to manage ‘in the moment’ issues and provide short-term relief.

Why invest in Before Blue

Before Blue transforms employee mental health. Participants in the program will see significant improvements in wellbeing, productivity and engagement.

Benefits of Before Blue

  • Before Blue works. It is not only measurable and shows sustained improvement in people’s mental health, but it is also proven to boost employee engagement and productivity.
  • Using Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LiCBT), Before Blue drives change over 6 weeks and beyond, not just in one session.
  • Provides personalised plans, goals and strategies to practice, guided by an experienced coach.
  • Delivers interactive content across the 8 sessions (up to) program, that keeps people engaged with videos, podcasts and interactive tools.
  • Gives weekly progress tracking to boost motivation and achievement.
  • Adopts a non-clinical approach that aims to destigmatise mental health and empower people with skills.
  • Includes follow-up sessions to reinforce learning and give extra support where needed.
  • Shows measurable results for workplaces with insightful impact and outcomes reports.

How does Before Blue work

Each week, participants will work with a dedicated Before Blue coach to review their progress and work through their planned actions.

Using LiCBT, the coach will give the participant practical activities to complete between sessions. They will also have access to:

  • videos, podcasts and interactive tools with relatable stories and practical strategies to try between sessions, and
  • Before Blue digital platform, to manage any bookings, cancellations, rescheduling seamlessly within their own portal.

Over 6 weeks, with the support of their dedicated coach, participants will:

  • talk through their challenges
  • develop a problem statement
  • create a plan based on their needs
  • walk through their plan
  • learn practical skills
  • review their progress.

When to refer an employee to Before Blue

Before Blue is suitable for employees who are experiencing day-to-day work or life pressures, such as feelings of worry, stress, anxiety, isolation, and being overwhelmed.

Before Blue coaches are specially trained in LiCBT, which is grounded in years of research and supports an early intervention approach to mental health. This builds lasting resilience and coping skills, helping people get on top of everyday challenges before they stack up.

More information

Page last reviewed: 24 September 2024

Comcare
GPO Box 9905, Canberra, ACT 2601
1300 366 979 | www.comcare.gov.au

Date printed 12 Oct 2024

https://www.comcare.gov.au/safe-healthy-work/mentally-healthy-workplaces/before-blue