By Jim WilsonJan 26, 2025 Canadian HRR Reporter
‘Creating an environment where employees feel supported and valued not only improves their well-being but also strengthens organizations’
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has released two resources to help employers cater to the mental health needs of their workers.
The government agency released a free Workplace Mental Health Toolkit to help Canadian organizations create a supportive environment for mental health at work.
The online toolkit aims to empower business owners, managers, and supervisors to build a workplace culture where employees feel safe, respected, and valued, according to CCOHS.
“Creating an environment where employees feel supported and valued not only improves their well-being but also strengthens organizations,” says Anne Tennier, president and CEO of the national centre for occupational health and safety. “This toolkit can help employers start their journey toward a mental health program in the workplace.”
The CCOHS toolkit includes informative videos, practical checklists, infographics, posters, and podcasts to help develop a strong mental health program, address hazards and risks, and hold meaningful conversations about mental health with colleagues. It also makes the connection between mental health and other human rights issues.
Post-pandemic, there has been a significant increase in demand for mental health services, and more and more Canadians are looking towards their employers to provide support, according to a previous report.
Mental health resource for SMBs
CCOHS has also released a portal of resources specifically designed for small and medium-size businesses.
The Business Safety Portal offers an accessible, scalable, low-cost solution for employers to help them understand their legal obligations for protecting workers from injuries and illnesses and keep up to date with their health and safety policies, training, and other regulatory requirements.
The portal provides businesses with health and safety guidance specific to their industry and location. It features templates and checklists to guide them through identifying health and safety hazards and concerns, assessing the risks to their workers, and developing policies and programs to help protect them.
The portal also includes relevant online courses, practical manuals, fact sheets, and a digital file cabinet to store, update and share important documentation, such as health and safety plans, training certificates and inspection records.
“With the unique challenges that small and medium-sized businesses face, meeting health and safety obligations can be daunting,” said Tennier, citing the need for this type of resource.
According to the report “Key Small Business Statistics, 2023,” about 99.7 per cent of all businesses in Canada are small to medium-sized (1 to 499 paid employees), employing about 7.8 million workers, almost twice the number of large businesses.
Annual subscriptions for the portal start from $100, according to CCOHS.
Workers who put focus on their wellbeing are less likely to miss fewer days at work, according to a previous report from TELUS Health.
What causes mental health problems in the workplace?
Researchers have yet to determine exactly what causes mental illnesses, notes William McPeck, workplace humanizer and employee wellbeingpreneur, via Medium.
The current state of the research suggests that mental illnesses are caused by a host of biological, psychological and social factors, he notes.
“The best list, in one place, of workplace specific factors I have seen is the list of 13 specific workplace psychosocial factors contained in the Canadian standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace,” he says.
Their list consists of:
- Organizational culture
- Employee growth and development
- Psychological and social support
- Recognition and reward
- Balance
- Clear leadership and expectations
- Involvement and influence
- Psychological protection
- Civility and respect
- Workload management
- Protection of physical safety
- Engagement
- Psychological demands
“Knowing about mental health does nothing to improve workplace mental health unless action is taken,” says McPeck. “Strategies and tactics are all about taking action. To have the best chance of effectiveness and success, strategies and tactics must be aligned with both what the organization means by the term mental health and the organization’s culture.”
