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Friday, October 10 is World Mental Health Day.
Everyone struggles with mental health or mental illness at some point in their lives, if not daily.
We know that safe, healthy work environments contribute to mental wellness, yet the commitment to supporting the mental health of workers is too often limited and not prioritized.
Workplace Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Committees have an important role to play in identifying and addressing the psychosocial factors and hazards that contribute to unhealthy and unsafe work environments.
Protecting the mental health of workers cannot fall entirely on the workers themselves. Ultimately the employers still have the primary responsibility to protect workers’ health and safety and prevent mental health injuries in the workplace.
Employers must be prepared to create positive workplace culture and practices and adopt health and safety strategies to address the general and specific challenges in each workplace. Resources like Employee and Family Assistance Plans (EFAP), access to adequate vacation and other forms of leave, and many other programs are important to address existing issues, but preventative measures remain largely inadequate and workers are suffering as a result.
Unifor was a leading partner in the development of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standard that outlines the 16 psychosocial factors that impact organizational health, the health of individual employees and the financial bottom line, including the way work is carried out and the context in which work occurs. Read more about these factors at the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).
Unifor prioritizes mental health care and awareness in every aspect of union work. From building and enforcing spaces where harassment is unacceptable, to bargaining language that holds employers accountable, Unifor aims to support good mental health for all.
People often bring life issues and stressors with them to work. When we build workplace cultures where people are valued and respected, where we create a network of peer supporters, we give each individual the dignity they deserve and the opportunity to manage, heal, and thrive.
We encourage members to End the Stigma around mental illness and mental health and commit to working with your local OHS committee to evaluate the risks and hazards to worker mental health in the workplace. The national union’s Health, Safety and Environment Department has resources and can offer guidance on expanding worker knowledge and increasing dialogue with employers toward better mental health supports.
Please visit the Unifor website for additional resources, including the updated Mental Health Matters booklet outlining common concerns and approaches to support members with mental illness, addiction issues and other mental health challenges.
Find printable End the Stigma graphics here to post as reminders in your workplace.
