Workplace Safety North (WSN), the agency that promotes safety and training in Northern resource industries, has just released a new guide designed to help small business owners manage mental health in the workplace.
The guide was created by certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisors, trained by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), said the news release from WSN.
It said the guide offers up simple steps to help manage the factors that affect mental health issues where people work.
“Investing in mental health isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s a smart business decision,” said WSN health and safety services director Cindy Schiewek.
“This free guide gives small business owners the tools to create a supportive workplace, leading to healthier, happier employees and a more productive, resilient team.”
The guide, which is available online, said employers need to "get informed" about mental health, said the release.
It provides business owners with a clear introduction to psychological health and safety, including key terms and concepts.
The guide said that mental health, like physical health, can have its good days and bad days. Sometimes stress can build up if people are worried about their workload or worried about a health and safety issue.
"By staying informed, business owners can better support their staff and help create a positive and healthy work environment," said the release.
The program also encourages workplaces to manage psychosocial hazards -- things that cause harm to an employee's well being, such as bullying, high workloads or lack of support.
WSN also offers webinars and other online support tools for mental health training.
Another step involves creating an action plan which includes setting specific goals, monitoring the progress and working to continuously improve.
WSN said additional information is available on the agency website.
