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Mental health concerns due to work have the potential to adversely impact an employee's social interactions, productivity, performance, and absenteeism. Stress affects people in a variety of ways such as muscle tension, headaches, stomach discomfort, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Ignoring workplace stress can have lasting harmful ...
Approximately 65% of U.S. workers surveyed have characterized work as being a very significant or somewhat significant source of stress in each year from 2019-2021 4. 54% of workers report that work stress affects their home life 5. Stress can be harmful to our health and increase mental health challenges. Mental health challenges can include ...
Sep 23, 2024 · To make matters of mental health even more challenging, the signs of concern for mental health are not always as visible and apparent as concerns for physical health are. The words we use to describe mental health are different from the words we use to explain physical health. People often say things like: "I have a fever." "He has the flu."
May 10, 2024 · The overall health of a workplace includes both the physical and psychological well-being of its workers. By treating mental health and its psychological component equally with the physical environment, a workplace can support their workers' overall well-being. Poor mental health not only hurts the individual, it also reduces corporate profits.
- Overview
- Employers are responsible for protecting the health and safety of employees
- Top 8 practices—What can you do to help
- Benefits of a psychologically healthy workplace
- Preventing and addressing workplace mental health issues
- Mental health in provincial and territorial jurisdictions
- Related links
- Footnotes
A psychologically healthy workplace is a respectful and productive environment that makes every reasonable effort to promote and protect the mental health of employees.
•30% of disability claims are related to mental health problems and mental illnessFootnote 1
•1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental health problem or mental illness each yearFootnote 2
1.Support employee participation and decision-making
2.Define employees' duties and responsibilities
3.Promote work-life balance
4.Encourage and model respectful behaviours
5.Manage workloads
6.Provide training and learning opportunities
As an employer, there are many ways in which you can help create a psychologically healthy and safe workplace. Building a supportive work environment that promotes mental well-being has benefits for everyone and keeps your workforce strong and competitive.
Better:
•engagement
•morale
•satisfaction
•retention and recruitment
Updating or creating a hazard prevention program
As an employer, you should assess your workplace for hazards, whether physical or psychological. Then, you should develop a plan to address and mitigate those hazards. Learn more about the hazard prevention program. As with other health and safety issues, you must always work with one of the following when developing policies or programs that address mental health in the workplace: your policy health and safety committee your workplace health and safety committee, or your health and safety representative
Resources and tools to support mental health in the workplace
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has developed Healthy Minds@Work. This is a hub of tools and resources to support workplace parties in their efforts to address psychological health and safety in the workplace. Other tools and resources are also available: The Mental Health Commission of Canada’s National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (the Standard) Mental Health First Aid, developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, aims to improve mental health literacy and provide the skills and knowledge to help people better manage potential or developing mental health problems in themselves, a family member, a friend or a colleague
Provincial Workers’ Compensation Boards in Canada
•Hazard Prevention Program
•Part II of the Canada Labour Code
•The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
•Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations
Footnote 1
Sairanen, S., Matzanka, D., & Smeall, D. (2011). The business case: Collaborating to help employees maintain their mental well-being. Healthcare Papers, 11, 78-84.
Return to footnote 1 referrer
Footnote 2
Smetanin, P., Stiff, D., Briante, C., Adair, C., Ahmad, S. & Khan, M. (2011). The life and economic impact of major mental illnesses in Canada: 2011 to 2014. RiskAnalytica, on behalf of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Return to footnote 2 referrer
Apr 17, 2023 · Workplace mental health is a critical component of overall employee well-being and can significantly impact workplace safety. In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the importance of addressing stress and burnout in the workplace, with OSHA emphasizing the need for employers to consider these issues as part of their overall safety and health programs.
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Jan 24, 2024 · Photo: Drazen_/iStockphoto. Washington — A new fact sheet from OSHA is intended to help employers prioritize workers’ mental health. “Mental health is an important component of overall well-being and is equally as vital as physical health for all employees,” OSHA says. “Mental health concerns due to work have the potential to ...
