What is Workplace Wellness?
A psychologically safe and healthy workplace is one that promotes workers’ mental well-being and doesn’t harm employee mental health through negligent, reckless or intentional ways. For example, a psychologically safe workplace would be free of excessive fear or chronic anxiety.
What is mental health?
Mental health is a state of well-being in which a person understands his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to their community.
When the demands placed on someone exceed their resources and coping abilities, their mental health will be negatively affected. Two examples of common demands are:
- working long hours under difficult circumstances,
- caring for a chronically ill relative.
Economic hardship, unemployment, underemployment and poverty also have the potential to harm mental health. [1]
Facts and Stats
- 21.4% of working population in Canada currently experience mental health problems and illness
- $50 billion cost to Canadians – health care, lost time, work disruptions
- Effects on physical health include heart problems, cancers, substance abuse, reduced adaptability, increased aggression/conflicts, impaired learning/memory, increased passivity
- 30% of all short and long term disability claims are due to mental health problems
Effects on the workplace include:
- Reduction in productivity due to absenteeism and presenteeism
- Increase in premiums, health/benefit and recruitment costs [2]
Why is it Important?
- The impact of mental health problems and illnesses is especially felt in workplaces and among working aged people.
- People in their early and prime working years are among the hardest hit by mental health problems and illnesses.
- About 21.4% of the working population in Canada currently experience mental health problems and illnesses, which can affect their productivity.
- Mental health problems and illnesses account for approximately 30% of short – and long-term disability claims and are rated one of the top three drivers of such claims by more than 80% of Canadian employers. [3]
What does it Look Like?
Certain features of the workplace can affect employees’ mental and physical health. These include demoralization, depressed mood, anxiety, burnout, etc. These factors increase the likelihood that an individual will experience increased stress, which in turn increases the likelihood of developing or worsening a mental disorder.
Psychological health problems can range widely, from mild psychological difficulties such as low mood, sleep difficulties, or excessive worry to severe psychological disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe depression. Because milder psychological health problems are far more common in the workplace, they account for a larger percentage of the negative impacts on employees and employers.
Mental distress that has not reached the level of a diagnosable mental disorder can still be a source of considerable suffering. It is possible that workplace factors may increase the likelihood of the occurrence of a mental disorder, make an existing disorder worse, and impede effective treatment and rehabilitation. On the other hand, a supportive work environment can reduce the onset, severity, impact and duration of a mental health disorder. [4]
See Workplace Wellness in the Mental Health Training Framework document
Mental Health Training Framework
Resources
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
This website contains many resources on topics such as stress, mental health in the workplace and work-life balance.
Elements and Priorities for Working Toward a Psychologically Safer Workplace
This report was prepared to support organizational readiness to embrace the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (the Standard). It includes the 5 elements of a standard management approach, to creating and sustaining an organizational plan of mental health and wellness. Offered through WSMH.
Guarding Minds @ Work
A free resource from WSMH to help you and your organization improve psychological health and safety in your workplace. It consists of a set of self-serve tools to assess and address factors known to impact employee psychological health and safety and evaluate the effectiveness of these efforts.
The National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace
The National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (the Standard) is a set of voluntary guidelines, tools and resources intended to guide organizations in promoting mental health and preventing psychological harm at work.
The Psychology Foundation of Canada
This website contains various articles on workplace wellness.
Workplace Health and Wellness Guide
Designed and written as a practical training and reference tool, this 190- page pocket guide will help you establish a workplace health program (or enhance your existing program) by providing information, tips, charts, checklists and illustrations. Developed by CCOHS (Cost $15)
Workplace Strategies for Mental Health / Canada Life
This website has a plethora of Workplace Health and Safety resources for management and staff. Includes free training and tools.
Toolkits
Not Myself Today Toolkit
Participating companies receive employee engagement activities, tools and resources that are proven to work in a variety of work environments. Includes Planning Support, Kick Off materials, Awareness Building materials, Engagement activities, Evaluation tools. Available through CMHA.
Working Life Toolkit
Working Life, offered by Skyworks Charitable Foundation, gives employers and employees new ways of thinking about mental health and reducing stigma. It includes a documentary DVD, CD with Trainer’s guide and documentary transcripts. (nominal fee to cover shipping)
Workplace Strategies for Mental Health / Canada Life
This website has a plethora of Workplace Health and Safety resources for management and staff. Includes free training and tools.
Workplace Wellness Toolkit
Developing your own workplace wellness plan to improve the health and wellbeing of your employees and your workplace. The toolkit considers keys factors such as employee demographics, the size of your organization and your company culture.
Videos
The Edge of Compassion
The TEND Academy TEDTalk Explores best practices in Compassion Fatigue. (18 minutes)
Workplace Strategies for Mental Health / Canada Life
This website has a plethora of Workplace Health and Safety resources for management and staff. Includes free training and tools.
In-Person Training
Certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor
This ground-breaking certification training program is for individuals and consultants who want to help organizations improve psychological health and safety in their workplaces or implement the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (the Standard). (2 day) Competency: Knowledge, Behavioural, Activating Audience: Management (large organizations)
Mental Health Works
Mental Health Works provides capacity building workshops on workplace mental health to both employers and employees. Their approach is person centred, evidence based, and solutions focused. They meet the needs of workplaces for mental health training in three essential areas. Core Workshop (1 day)- provides participants an in depth understanding
TEND Academy
This organization offers one and two-day trainings for leadership, organizations and staff who work in high pressure, high stress and trauma exposed workplace (duration not specified) Competency: Knowledge, Activating, Behavioural Audience: Management and Staff Cost: Not indicated
Online Training
Being a Mindful Employee: An Orientation to Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace
This free online training program offered by CCOHS is about psychological health and safety in the workplace. The goal is to help an employer understand the 13 psychosocial workplace factors from the National Standard of Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace and what you can do to help yourself
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
This website offers a Mental Health E-course package. This package of E-courses is intended to help employers understand mental health issues in the workplace. Modules include: Mental Health Awareness; Health and Wellness; Signs, Symptoms and Solutions; Psychologically Healthy Workplaces; Communication Competency: Knowledge Audience: Management and Staff Cost: $169
Gender Based Analysis Plus. GBA+
SWC has an analytical process used to assess how diverse groups of women, men and non-binary people may experience policies, programs and initiatives. It acknowledges the need to go beyond biological (sex) and socio-cultural (gender) differences and considers many other identity factors,like race, ethnicity, religion, age, and mental or physical
Managing Mental Health Matters
This "first of its kind" program focuses on helping managers, supervisors and other leaders learn how to effectively recognize and manage mental health related issues in the workplace. Addresses critical issues relevant to mental health in the workplace. (duration not specified) Competency: Knowledge Audience: Management Cost: Free
On the Agenda
This series of videos, presentation slides and supporting materials can help trainers, team leaders, manager or others to pave the way for discussions and action aimed at developing a psychologically healthy and safe workplace. The 13 psychological workplace factors have been identified, through a large body of research, as the
TEND Academy
This organization offers online trainings for leadership, organizations and staff who work in high pressure, high stress and trauma exposed workplaces. (duration not specified) Competency: Knowledge Audience: Management and Staff Cost: $250
Working Through It
This can be used in workplaces: 1) As a private resource for individuals who may be struggling with health, personal, financial or workplace issues, and are looking for practical strategies and inspirational stories to help them cope. In this section you can learn how to share this opportunity with those
References
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. (2017). Mental Health – Introduction. Retrieved from https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/mentalhealth_intro.html
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. Mental Health in the Canadian Workplace Infographic. Retrieved from https://www.ccohs.ca/products/posters/mental_health_infographic/
- Mental Health Commission of Canada. (2012). Making a Case for Investing in Mental Health in Canada. Retrieved from https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/media/3179
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. (2017). Mental Health – Introduction. Retrieved from https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/mentalhealth_intro.html