Organizational Health Inc. (OHI)—a health management company specializing in employee and family assistance programs, substance management programs and wellness services—has launched three new mental health programs for Canadian employers: Mental Health First Aid, Beating the Blues and Complex Issues Clear Solutions.
Poor mental health is the leading cause of both short- and long-term disability within Canadian companies, according to a 2010 study by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, says OHI. That amounts to escalating benefits costs, increased absenteeism and decreased productivity and revenue.
“The research shows that traditional approaches haven’t worked and that employers are eager to learn new skills to help employees maintain good mental health in the face of a demanding work environment,” said Darren Harris, vice-president of OHI. “Mental health must be at the forefront of health and wellness programs. To that end, we substantially bolstered our resources to offer employers even more practical and hands-on programs to deal effectively with workplace mental health issues.”
The Mental Health First Aid program is a 12-hour interactive course in which employers learn how to deal effectively and respectfully with mental health issues. Some of the topics addressed in the sessions include the following:
- recognizing the signs and symptoms of mental health problems;
- recognizing when a person may be a danger to himself or others; and
- providing help and guidance toward professional assistance to prevent the problem from intensifying.
Beating the Blues uses cognitive behavioural therapy to help individuals suffering with anxiety or depression. OHI provides a professional counsellor to coach the participant through an eight-week online program, which includes the following steps:
- introducing participants to new skills for dealing effectively with life’s challenges;
- watching these skills in practice through video clips of real people sharing their personal experiences; and
- practising the skills between sessions via homework assignments and follow-up tests to ensure that the strategies have been implemented.
Complex Issues Clear Solutions is a full-day program (or two half days) that deals with scenarios such as the following:
- discussing sensitive or contentious concerns with employees;
- resolving conflicts;
- separating performance issues from health issues;
- creating accommodation strategies that work; and
- avoiding discrimination and human rights violations.