Resources for organizations for mental health in the workplace

Every organization is required to develop and implement an action plan to support a culture that integrates psychological health, safety and well-being. Find information to support and guide you in the development and implementation of your action plan.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1 or go to your local emergency department.

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline.

If you are in distress, please contact your Employee Assistance Program.

Resources

Raising awareness

Departments and agencies are encouraged to use and promote these resources to raise awareness and break down stigma.

  • Federal Speakers’ Forum on Lived Experience

    This forum consists of public servant who share lived experiences related to mental health, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion.

  • Mental health awareness campaigns

    Consult and promote the following campaigns: Canadian Mental Health Association’s Annual Mental Health Week and Bell Let’s Talk.

  • Mental health brochures

    Consult and promote brochures from the Canadian Mental Health Association for information on and support related to mental health.

Building capacity

The following resources support departments with the establishment and implementation of their departmental mental health action plans.

  • Federal public service workplace mental health strategy

    The Federal Public Service Workplace Mental Health Strategy is an important first step in the Government’s efforts to build a healthy, respectful, and supportive work environment that strengthens the public service.

    The Strategy focuses on three strategic goals: changing culture to be respectful to the mental health of all colleagues, building capacity with tools and resources for employees at all levels, and measuring and reporting on actions.

  • Workplace Mental Health Champion

    Choosing a workplace mental health champion is vital as they play an important role in engaging unions and employees at all levels and in raising awareness of the importance of psychological health and safety.

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

    Departments and agencies can align with the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, following guidance in Building Success: A Guide to Establishing and Maintaining a Psychological Health and Safety Management System in the Federal Public Service. This step-by-step implementation guide helps organizations identify and assess workplace hazards related to psychological health and safety of employees. It has been developed to help organizations plan, develop, maintain and refresh their Psychological Health and Safety Management System.

  • The 13 Psychosocial Factors

    These videos created by Ottawa Public Health and the Mental Health Commission of Canada help Canadians “have that talk” about mental health in the workplace. The videos provide realistic examples and strategies for each of the 13 factors that are part of a mentally healthy and safe workplace.

Supports and services

Fostering psychological health and safety in the workplace is also about knowing where to turn or where to refer federal public servants for support. See below for various resources.

Taking the pulse

These tools help measure progress of workplace mental health strategies and action plans.

  • Federal Public Service Workplace Mental Health Dashboard

    The Federal Public Service Workplace Mental Health Dashboard (the dashboard) (accessible only on the Government of Canada network) is a statistically validated, evergreen tool for reporting on the psychosocial factors outlined in the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. Examples of psychosocial factors include psychological support, organizational culture, and workload management.

    The dashboard can help identify psychological health and safety strengths and gaps in the federal public service, individual departments and sub-organizational units, track progress over time, and compare between various populations of public servants.

  • Guarding Minds @ Work

    Guarding Minds @ Work provides organizations with proactive, comprehensive ways to assess the psychological health and safety of their specific workplaces, combined with information on appropriate solutions and a method of measuring the effectiveness of those solutions.

How to reach us

The Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer’s Wellness and Mental Health team: GC Mental Health / Santé Mentale GC.

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