What does the new mental health standard for the workplace mean for you?

Hi everyone. We'll get started in just a few minutes

by Melissa Whetstone 1/16/2013 4:53:20 PM
Joining us today is Labour Minister Lisa Raitt and Dr. David Goldbloom, chair of the board of the Mental Health Commission of Canada

by Melissa Whetstone 1/16/2013 4:54:05 PM
Hello. David Goldbloom here! It's a pleasure to be here on this historic day for mental health and the workplace in Canada and I look forward to your questions and comments.

by David Goldbloom 1/16/2013 4:59:16 PM
Hi David, Thanks for joining us today

by Melissa Whetstone 1/16/2013 5:00:25 PM
Hello, Lisa Raitt here.

by Lisa Raitt 1/16/2013 5:02:21 PM
Hi Lisa, thanks to you as well for being with us today

by Melissa Whetstone 1/16/2013 5:02:44 PM
So the new standard identifies “psychological hazards of the workplace”? Can you give us some examples of what these include?

by Melissa Whetstone 1/16/2013 5:03:07 PM
Bullying and harassment are common examples. Work that is associated with high demand and low control, workplace injustice and lack of respect are others.

by David Goldbloom 1/16/2013 5:05:01 PM
And how does the new standard address or prevent these hazards?

by Melissa Whetstone 1/16/2013 5:06:48 PM
Structures, policies, processes and tools are put into place that allows an organization to identify and address the hazards and respond in a way that is relevant to their unique context and culture.

by David Goldbloom 1/16/2013 5:08:41 PM
Can you give an example of one such tool or policy?

by Melissa Whetstone 1/16/2013 5:09:32 PM
Guarding Minds @ Work, which is a program offered at no cost, will help assess an organization in terms of 13 work factors and provide appropriate suggested responses to improve the identified areas. The link is www.guardingmindsatwork.ca.

by David Goldbloom 1/16/2013 5:11:45 PM
Here is a question from a reader:

by Melissa Whetstone 1/16/2013 5:12:38 PM
Just wondering how people deal with depression and anxiety at work. I cannot afford meds and exercise isn't working. I don't drink and it's taking its toll at work and in my relationships. What to do?

by depressed 1/16/2013 5:12:51 PM
There are a number of resources - maybe your company has an employee assistance programme, there are alot of online resources and community resources. Your local branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association can help too. www.cmha.ca. We wish you well.

by Lisa Raitt 1/16/2013 5:15:05 PM
Hi, I'm the Careers Web Editor at The Globe. We get a lot of questions from readers about bullying and how challenging it is to address that issue if you're getting bullied at work, mainly for the fear that it will hurt your advancement options or result in you getting fired. Does this new standard address this thorny issue, and how?

by gilllivingston 1/16/2013 5:15:53 PM
The standard is about prevention and promotion, about increasing awareness of mental health hazards, including bullying, and means for changing the culture so people are aware of the consequences of bullying. Civility and respect are examples of workplace factors that promote mental health, and these are factors that can be identified in workplace assessment. Ultimately, beyond rules and tools, it is about changing cultures and behaviours,

by David Goldbloom 1/16/2013 5:20:02 PM
I am hoping that employers will find tools and practises in the standard that they can use to deal with this issue. Since 2008, The Federal Private Sector have been subject to regulations which mandate they have policies regarding workplace violence. This standard will help those employers.

by Lisa Raitt 1/16/2013 5:20:58 PM
Here is a question from a reader about how the standard is actually implemented (particularly since it is voluntary)

by Melissa Whetstone 1/16/2013 5:22:33 PM
Hey there, I appreciate that something is being done in terms of dealing with mental health issues in the workplace. However, to me this seems like a great way of not dealing with mental health problems, without actually doing anything.

I work in retail, and I have a hard enough time getting management to adhere to ESA and workplace safety standards, how is another voluntary process that'll involve creating a Psychological Health and Safety
Management System going to help, especially since according to the standard, its up to management to approve and implement, and the workers don't get a final say?

by Agent Oblivious edited by Melissa Whetstone 1/16/2013 5:22:38 PM

What does the new mental health standard for the workplace mean for you?

Ask Labour Minister Lisa Raitt and Dr. David Goldbloom your questions