ArcelorMittal Dofasco is reinforcing its commitment to workplace mental health in 2016, starting with a letter sent out to employees today.
The letter is being sent out to coincide with Bell Let’s Talk Day on January 27, and encourages employees to participate in the campaign.
The steel company will focus on mental health awareness through a number of additional initiatives throughout the year, including:
- Increased education for supervisors around recognizing and talking about mental health issues in the workplace;
- Continuation of the company’s ‘Not Myself Today’ campaign;
- Expansion of mental health champions throughout the businesses;
- And a focus on resiliency in its lifestyle programing.
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“As a company we feel that we all have a responsibility to speak up about mental health,” said Katrina McFadden, vice president, corporate administration and HR at ArcelorMittal Dofasco. “Our longstanding belief is ‘our strength is people.’ Their health and safety is our number-one priority and that’s both physical and mental health.
“We are also trying to just talk about mental health with our employees. We’re just one of 170 organizations across Canada supporting the ‘Not Myself Today’ campaign led by Partners for Health and we support Bell’s Let’s Talk Day as well. All of these programs are in an effort to remove stigma and talk about our complete health – that’s mind and body.”
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The ‘Not Myself Today’ campaign is part of the organization’s annual health and safety fair each fall. In 2015, 1,000 employees participated in a ‘Not Myself Today’ mood wall activity. It also launched its ‘Be Well Active Living’ initiative in the fall, which aims to help employees manage mood symptoms with physical activity.
ArcelorMittal Dofasco offers yoga and mindfulness programming to employees, has chosen mental health champions across all departments, and has expanded its Employee and Family Assistance Program, which is provided by Homewood Health, to include casual employees rather than just its full-time staff.
The company communicates regularly with its employees about mental health awareness through digital displays and bi-weekly electronic newsletters. It also includes education in its health and safety meetings about reducing stigma and creating awareness around mental health.
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“From a business perspective, depression, stress and anxiety are quickly becoming the leading causes of disability, affecting employees and their families, and mental health-related leaves are now one of the most costly forms of disability in Canada,” said McFadden.
“As a company and as individuals we understand the importance of doing more to proactively support our employees and their family members. This means helping each and every one of us to stay healthy and balanced, and offering support to those who may be affected by an illness – no matter what form it takes.”
In 2015, ArcelorMittal Dofasco was recognized with a Silver certification in the Canada Awards for Excellence’s Mental Health in the Workplace category.