Message from the Interim Clerk for Mental Health Week 2022

May 3, 2022 - Defence Stories

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past two years, the public service has demonstrated great strength, innovation and resiliency. You have all worked tirelessly to ensure Canadians have had access to financial resources and health supports during this unprecedented time. It was not easy, but your efforts on the front lines and behind the scenes have greatly benefitted people across the country.

As public servants, you serve Canadians, their communities and the public interest. In fulfilling these duties, however, you also need to make sure that you are attending to your own needs.

During Mental Health Week, I invite everyone to reflect on this year’s theme – empathy (you are now leaving the Government of Canada website) – and to think about how we can incorporate this into our work and beyond. One of the greatest tools at our disposal is the capacity to listen. I encourage you to speak with your colleagues this week and consider how their unique circumstances shape their perceptions and reactions in the workplace. Getting to know your colleagues can help foster compassion and understanding as we all tackle new and recurring challenges.

Our discussions surrounding mental health and wellness are key to promoting a healthy workplace. These conversations are never easy, but they are an investment in our collective mental health. Take the time to create safe spaces and learn about how to reduce stigma and build understanding. Listen, be authentic and available, and show empathy. Empathy may not come naturally to everyone, but it can be learned and practised – we just need to take the time and make the effort.

I encourage you all to get real about your mental health and take concrete actions in your daily lives. This can be as simple as taking time for yourself through regular breaks, going on a walk over lunch, reducing after-hours work, playing a sport, or spending time on a hobby. These simple activities can greatly impact your mental well-being and are crucial tools for avoiding burnout and mental distress.

I would like to remind you of the many mental health tools that are at your disposal, including Health Canada’s Wellness Together Canada portal, the Centre of Expertise on Mental Health in the Workplace and the Government of Canada’s resource hub for mental health and COVID-19. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential resource that is available to you and your immediate family members if you are ever in distress or need mental health support. The EAP is equipped to deal with a variety of issues including relationship difficulties, work-life balance problems, and more.

Janice Charette
Interim Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet