2016-17 Health at Work Peterborough’s Breakfast Series on Mental Health
Written by admin, September 27, 2016
September 27, 2016 – Health at Work Peterborough is pleased to present the “Health at Work Breakfast Series” to be launched during “Healthy Workplace Month” this October. The purpose of Healthy Workplace month is to increase awareness of the need for a comprehensive approach to workplace health in Canada that is influenced by the four elements of a healthy workplace: Healthy Lifestyles, Workplace Culture and Mental Health, the Physical Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility.
Taking place over 2016-17, this series will include important topics of interest to the business community regarding mental health in the workplace. The effects of mental illness costs the Canadian economy $51 billion a year. About one-third of this cost is related to absenteeism and loss of productivity in the workplace. With one in four Canadians experiencing some kind of mental illness over their life, ultimately mental illness affects us all. Stuart Harrison, President and C.E.O. of the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce states, “This is a terrific initiative. Business owners are looking for tangible ways to be supportive. This series will go a long way to showing how it can be accomplished.”
Locally, the Peterborough Health at Work Committee has a mandate to support workplaces in creating healthy work environments with an emphasis on psychological health and safety. The committee includes representation from Peterborough Public Health, The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR), Community Counselling and Resource Centre (CCRC) and Dr. Fergal O’Hagan, Assistant Professor, Trent University and Director of Research at Adaptive Health Care Solutions.
In 2013 the Mental Health Commission of Canada released voluntary National Standards on Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. These voluntary standards include 13 factors that impact the psychological health and safety of employees including organizational culture; leadership; civility and respect; job fit; growth and development; recognition and reward; involvement and influence; workload management; engagement; life balance; psychological support and protection and physical health and safety. The good news is that many businesses are already implementing policies and practices around these standards. These workshops will further support HR professionals, managers, labour relations organizations and front line workers to gain a better understanding of the opportunities to promote and improve mentally health workplaces.
Dates and topics of the Breakfast Series:
October 26, 2016 Mental Health Works: The Essentials
Jack Veitch, Health Promoter with CMHA HKPR will provide a one hour presentation introducing “Mental Health Works.” After the presentation, participants will be able to consider mental health as embedded within overall health; understand mental health and common mental health problems in terms of work-life balance and understand the impact of stigmatizing language and beliefs. These are all essential elements needed to create psychological supports—one of the 13 psychosocial factors necessary to create a psychologically healthy and safe workplace.
January 25, 2017 Job Analysis for Psychosocial Risk
“Psychological demands” is another psychosocial factor that contributes to the mental health of employees. In our more brain-based economy, psychological fit is as important as assessing the physical demands of a job. Understanding what the psychological demands are will assist you in such areas as hiring, training and performance management. In addition, job analysis is an essential tool when modifying jobs to ensure a better fit for employees. Dr. Fergal O’Hagan will present information and strategies that will help you analyze a job for psychological fit.
April 26, 2017 Critical Incident Response and the Value of EFAPs
The CSA Standard on Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace addresses “critical event preparedness” for the individual and the organization. Whether you have implemented the Standard or not, it is important to have a plan in place on how you will deal with a critical incident in your workplace. As Manager of Counselling at the Community Counselling and Resource Centre (CCRC), Kirsten Armbrust oversees the EAP program of fseap Peterborough. Kirsten will present information on developing a critical incident response. She will also discuss the types of programs and services available through employee and family assistance programs (EFAPs).
The breakfasts will be held at Peterborough Public Health, 185 King Street, breakfast served at 8:00 a.m. and the presentation from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. Registration is $10 per person. Registration is now open for the October breakfast and closes Wednesday, October 19, 2016.
Other events may be added to this Series as opportunities arise.
For more information and to register please visit www.healthatworkpeterborough.ca and search Education/Training.
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For further information:
Monique Beneteau, Peterborough Public Health
Chair, Peterborough Health at Work Committee
705-743-1003 ext. 309
mbeneteau@peterboroughpublichealth.ca