Slaw: Psychological health and safety: An action guide for employers

May 3, 2012 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employee Relations, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Human Rights

On April 27, 2012, the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) launched Psychological Health and Safety: An Action Guide for Employers to help Canadian employers protect their employees’ mental health. The guide was co-authored by Merv Gilbert, PhD, and Dan Bilsker, PhD, from the Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction at Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, with support from MHCC’s Workforce Advisory Committee.

The guide is meant to promote mental health concerns in Canada by helping employers understand the critical role workplaces play in the psychological health of all Canadians in recovery and prevention and the expanding impact on the safety, productivity and effectiveness of the workplace, which I’ve discussed previously on Slaw here and here.

Among other things, the guide outlines 24 practical actions as well as recommendations employers (of all sizes and in any sector or location) can take.

Employers are increasingly identifying the need to promote psychologically healthy and safe workplaces but are asking, ‘what can be done?’ The Action Guide is based on the latest scientific evidence and professional practices. It provides employers with logical implementation steps and recommendations that are practical, accessible and actionable, Bilsker says.

According to the MHCC:

The Guide will also inform the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, a voluntary standard for workplace mental health to be released later this year by the MHCC in collaboration with the Bureau de normalisation du Québec and the CSA Standards.

How does the guide work?

The guide is intended for employers, HR, managers, owners who are considering programs and policies to improve psychological health in their organizations, unions, legal and regulatory professionals, consultants and others with a stake in maintaining the psychological health and safety of workers.

For more, read my latest post on Slaw.

Yosie Saint-Cyr
First Reference Human Resources and Compliance Managing Editor

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Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor

Managing Editor at First Reference Inc.

Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B., is a trained lawyer called to the Quebec bar in 1988 and is still a member in good standing. She practiced business, employment and labour law until 1999. For over 18 years, Yosie has been the Managing Editor of the following publications, Human Resources Advisor, Human Resources PolicyPro, HRinfodesk and Accessibility Standards PolicyPro from First Reference. Yosie is one of Canada’s best known and most respected HR authors, with an extensive background in employment and labour across the country. Read more