Canada’s life and health insurance is giving the Mental Health Commission of Canada and the federal government kudos for the development of a voluntary Canada-wide standard in support of psychological health and safety in the workplace.
“The life and health insurance industry is committed to supporting the mental health of Canadian workers, and we’re glad to see this important step being taken toward supporting mental well-being and changing misperceptions,” said Frank Swedlove, president of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association.
The life and health insurance industry itself has adopted a set of principles that embraces standards and best practices that contribute to health and productivity in the workplace. They are as follows:
- working to improve knowledge and awareness of the impact of mental health in the workplace;
- encouraging development and promotion of best practices and programs;
- supporting practices that facilitate prevention, early detection and intervention;
- promoting fair and effective disability management practices; and
- focusing on products and services that address the needs and issues related to mental health.
“We believe that the life and health insurance industry is an important player in addressing workplace mental health issues, and we look forward to participating in the public review process this fall,” noted Swedlove.