According to SafeWork Australia's 2025 Key Statistics Report, mental health conditions accounted for 17,600 serious workers' compensation claims in 2023–24,  a staggering 161% increase since 2013–14. Harassment and workplace bullying represent the largest single category of those claims at 33.2%. Mental stress claims cost, on average, four times more than other serious claims and result in five times more lost work time.

Most of it was preventable. Not with policies. Not with posters. Not with another tick-and-flick compliance module that people click through and immediately forget.

It was preventable much earlier, in the small moments where silence became permission. This blog explores why ‘Just Speak up’ is terrible advice and what to do instead.