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Workplace Solutions for Mental Health
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  1. one lime green icon personMental health in the workplace
  2. Prevention
  3. National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace
  1. Manager Training
  3. National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace
    1. National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace
  5. Thought leadership

National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace

Mental illness is the leading cause of disability claims in Canada and is expected to grow.1 To help employers respond to this challenge, the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) championed the development and release of of the first voluntary National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (the Standard).

The new national Standard encourages employers to identify, assess, and mitigate risks at the workplace that may impact an employee’s psychological health and wellbeing.

The convergence of recent legal with existing scientific evidence provided an impetus for the development of this Standard. Organizations are increasingly realizing that a psychologically healthy and safe workplace allows them to contain costs, manage risks and recruit and maintain talent.

Roadmap for psychological safety

Although employers are often interested in improving psychological health and safety, they may find it hard to plan and organize effective action. The national Standard includes a list of 13 workplace factors that have the biggest potential to foster a psychologically healthy workplace.

  1. Organizational culture
  2. Psychological and social support
  3. Clear leadership and expectations
  4. Civility and respect
  5. Psychological demands
  6. Growth and development
  7. Recognition and reward
  8. Involvement and influence
  9. Workplace management
  10. Engagement
  11. Balance
  12. Psychological protection
  13. Protection of physical safety
  • Get a free download of the Standard here.
  • Check out this YouTube video produced by the MHCC that summarizes how the national Standard can be used to help improve the psychological health of your workplace.
  1. 1Employee Benefit News, Manulife Financial, Spring 2013 edition.

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