David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Workplace mental health guide sets national standard
CBC News
Jan 16, 2013
Voluntary standard focuses on psychological health, safety of Canadian workers
Canadian employers and unions wishing to promote mental health in the workplace can now turn to a new national standard to help boost the well-being of employees.
In Toronto on Wednesday, federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt, the Mental Health Commission of Canada, the Canadian Standards Association and Quebec's standards development body (BNQ) launched the voluntary standard on psychological health and safety in the workplace.
"We are first in the world to do this," Raitt said at a news conference.
The Canadian Labour Code already addresses bullying and sexual harassment, but the new standard gives more support to employers and employees to make their workplaces better, she said. "Why shouldn't we be happy at work?
Louise Bradley, president and CEO of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, said it's time to start thinking about mental well-being in the same way as physical well-being.
"The guidance document aims to get employers to pledge to:
The framework addresses prevention, promotion and implementation, such as through audit tools.
When workplace mental health needs are unmet, risks to psychological health rise, the authors said.
Recognizing that one in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem or illness, the Mental Health Commission recommended national mental health standards for workplaces in its final report last year.
In June, Raitt said talking about mental health in the workplace was one of her priorities, given her own experience with postpartum depression, as well as the toll mental illness can take on absenteeism and lost productivity.
The development of the standard was funded in part by the government of Canada (through Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada), and through financial contributions from the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace and Bell Canada.
CBC News
Jan 16, 2013
Voluntary standard focuses on psychological health, safety of Canadian workers
Canadian employers and unions wishing to promote mental health in the workplace can now turn to a new national standard to help boost the well-being of employees.
In Toronto on Wednesday, federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt, the Mental Health Commission of Canada, the Canadian Standards Association and Quebec's standards development body (BNQ) launched the voluntary standard on psychological health and safety in the workplace.
"We are first in the world to do this," Raitt said at a news conference.
The Canadian Labour Code already addresses bullying and sexual harassment, but the new standard gives more support to employers and employees to make their workplaces better, she said. "Why shouldn't we be happy at work?
Louise Bradley, president and CEO of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, said it's time to start thinking about mental well-being in the same way as physical well-being.
"The guidance document aims to get employers to pledge to:
- Consider the mental well-being of employees and identify hazards.
- Assess workplace hazards such as stressors from job demands.
- Strive for work/life balance.
- Help workers feel they are treated with fairness, respect and rewarded for their contributions.
The framework addresses prevention, promotion and implementation, such as through audit tools.
When workplace mental health needs are unmet, risks to psychological health rise, the authors said.
Recognizing that one in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem or illness, the Mental Health Commission recommended national mental health standards for workplaces in its final report last year.
In June, Raitt said talking about mental health in the workplace was one of her priorities, given her own experience with postpartum depression, as well as the toll mental illness can take on absenteeism and lost productivity.
The development of the standard was funded in part by the government of Canada (through Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada), and through financial contributions from the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace and Bell Canada.
