Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Mental Health Supports Improve the Workplace

When people suffer shocking negative life events, it can have a big impact on the workplace

There has been much discussion around the subject of trauma in culture lately, particularly postpandemic, which many have deemed a collective trauma. According to a recent survey from the Telus Health Mental Health Index, 39 percent of workers surveyed had experienced a recent painful incident. Fifty percent of those people said the incident had a significant impact on their overall mental health.

Women were 50 percent more likely to have been negatively affected, according to the report, which heard from 3,000 employees in Canada between March 6 and March 13, 2023. Workers younger than age 40 were 60 percent more likely to report an ongoing negative impact.

In a Canadian HR Reporter article, Kirsten I’Anson, a senior HR leader at Community Savings Credit Union (CSCU) in Vancouver, said these troubling results align with a similar study her organization completed with the University of British Columbia around male employees’ mental health.

“There’s definitely trauma that is not necessarily caused by the workplace, but it’s definitely carrying over into the workplace for so many people,” said I’Anson. “We found that 11 percent of respondents reported weekly or daily bullying. We have 75 percent of respondents reporting dread about going to work and 55 percent reported being lonely.”

Employers will have to address this fact if they aren’t already doing so.

“There’s no getting away from the fact that people can’t leave their troubles behind them when they’re at work,” said I’Anson. “We’ve got an obligation as employers to make sure that there’s sufficient support.”

So how can employers better support struggling workers? Conversations are a great first step, but understanding who might be suffering requires training.

“It’s got to be mandatory that [workplace leaders] have mental health first-aid training so they can start to recognize symptoms,” said I’Anson. “These programs should also be available to workers to increase overall mental health literacy.”

CLAC’s Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course gives people the skills to provide early intervention to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Learn more about courses available in your province at clac.ca/your-work/training-opportunities.

Employee Assistance Plans Offer Free Help

Forty percent of workers in Canada are unfamiliar with the purpose of an employee assistance program (EAP) or employee and family assistance program (EFAP) and what they offer. And while employer-provided EAPs are free to workers, more than 27 percent cite cost as a major barrier in using them, the TELUS Mental Health Index reports.

Members covered under a CLAC health benefits plan have access to immediate, free, and confidential help through the HumanaCare EFAP. Access it anytime by logging into your myCLAC account and clicking on My Health and Wellness.

“When people become aware of the opportunity to access free, confidential counselling through an employee assistance program, they are often thrilled,” said Paula Allen, global leader, research and client insights, TELUS Health. “They also deeply appreciate the support their organization provides for this service.”

Source: hrreporter.com

Mental Health Supports Improve the Workplace

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