When it comes to mental wellness, employers are making it their business, but they still need some help.
“Employers really understand the business case,” said Karla Thorpe, director of prevention and promotion initiatives with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, speaking at Benefits Canada’s Benefits & Pension Summit this afternoon. “They understand what mental health is costing business. I think that message has really gotten through.”
But, she continued, what we’re hearing is how they actually get started from a practical perspective.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) introduced the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace two years ago. It was devised to do two primary things, Thorpe said: prevent psychological harm in the workplace and promote psychological health.
“It’s focusing on the five in five employees rather than on the one in five [20%] that will experience a mental health issue,” she said.
To help more employers implement the voluntary standard, in November last year, the MHCC launched a guidebook, Assembling the Pieces: An Implementation Guide to the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace.
The guidebook explains how to implement the standard step by step, and also provides the resources and tools available for employers, Thorpe said.
You can download the guidebook here.
All the articles from the event can be found in our special section: 2015 Benefits & Pension Summit Coverage.
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