And another one for workers they might dream of retirement but staying employed is one of the best things they can do for their mind.

Professor Hickie, one of Australia's top mental health researchers, was speaking at the National Press Club as part of the Canberra Business Council's Canberra Times business series.

He said it made more financial sense to support employees and boost their mental wellbeing than to cope with absenteeism, mental illness and poor performance.

''The productivity costs to Australia are estimated at $10billion to $15billion a year. We don't spend that much to actually try to do something about it, we spend about $5billion a year, less than 8 per cent of total health expenditures, and that has not changed in the last 15 years,'' he said.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times