Publications

The National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace

Prevention, promotion and guidance to staged implementation The Mental Health Commission of Canada’s 2012 report Changing Directions-Changing Lives: the Mental Health Strategy for Canada recommended the wide adoption of psychological health and safety standards in Canadian workplaces. The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) worked with the CSA and the Bureau de normalization du Québec (BNQ) to develop The National…

National Standard and Mental Injury Toolkit training

The National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace was developed for the Mental Health Commission of Canada by the CSA Group and the BNQ in 2013. The Commission describes it as “a set of voluntary guidelines, tools and resources intended to guide organizations in promoting mental health and preventing psychological harm at work.” The National…

Bargaining for better benefits and supports

Unions can make sure that mental health issues are addressed in collective agreements. We can also encourage members who live with mental illness, or care for someone who does, to be on bargaining committees or provide input to the process of developing demands to put forward in bargaining. 8 demands bargaining units can make for improved mental health: Sick leave,…

Promote peer support

Peer support is a great tool for people with mental illness. Peer supporters are trained to provide support and understanding, help people navigate the mental health system, link people with community services, and support work towards personal goals. Peer supporters are people who have personal experience with mental illness. Many provinces and communities run peer support programs, which play a…

Expand Labour Community Advocate Training

The Labour Community Advocate Training Program is a Canadian Labour Congress training program delivered by Labour Programs and Services staff and funded through the United Way Centraide. This program provides participants with information about the social issues faced by working people and the resources available in their community. Participants are also trained to identify community issues – like mental health…

Awareness and anti-stigma campaigns

Despite campaigns to raise awareness about mental illness, there is still a lot of discrimination and prejudice against people with depression, eating disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, post-partum depression and other mental illnesses. Stigma and discrimination are so deeply entrenched, we often don’t even notice them. But they are one of the key reasons people with mental illness feel…

Support for family or caregivers

Support comes in many forms. These include understanding co-workers, caring family members, a supportive work environment, good friends, and a positive relationship with a therapist or medical team. Of course, people facing all kinds of challenges benefit from these supports, but they are particularly important for those living with mental illness. We know that one of the most important elements…

Training and education for staff, officers, and stewards

Mental illnesses can be bewildering for people who aren’t familiar with them. Sometimes they involve changes in personality, mood, or behaviour, and that can be confusing. Training and education can help staff, officers, and stewards offer members help and support in a way that is sensitive, empathetic, and appropriate. Emotional support is important, but so is being able to help…

Union education programs for leaders, activists, and members

Unions can offer education programs created by and for labour, and delivered with a union perspective. It is critical for unions to take the lead in creating their own educational opportunities for a few reasons. In addition to sharing information about the science of mental illness and learning how to offer help to members with mental health challenges, labour education…

Why does mental health matter to workers and unions?

Mental health matters to workers and unions because it affects our members and their families. Most people know someone with a mental health challenge. Better mental health care, an end to discrimination against people with mental illness, and equitable work opportunities are human rights issues. Some mental illnesses also affect equity-seeking groups disproportionately—so mental health plays an important role in…