Resources for employers to support the mental health of their workforce

Research abounds about the importance of talking about and prioritizing mental health at work, and the role workplaces can play in helping to maintain positive mental health in employees.

According to the Harvard Business Review, feeling authentic and open at work can lead to better engagement, performance, retention, and overall well-being.

But without resources or support in place, work can be a stressful environment that can negatively impact mental health and well-being.

These stresses are only compounded during a crisis. According to a recent survey by Morneau Shepell, the majority of Canadians are finding that the COVID-19 pandemic is having a negative impact on their mental health. There are many factors that are contributing to the decrease in mental health, such as caring for kids, tending to sick family members, and other circumstances, in addition to the stress of continuing to work amidst the crisis, or getting laid off as companies cut costs. The World Health Organization states that the pandemic has been accompanied by an “infodemic,” which is an over-abundance of information — some accurate and some not — that makes it difficult for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it the most.

Our recent webinar, moderated by Ceridian President and COO Leagh Turner, featured an expert panel including Louise Bradley, CEO of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, John Foley, VP HR at Builders FirstSource, and award-winning journalist and Globe and Mail columnist Rita Trichur. Our experts discussed how the fluidity of news, social distancing, stress and uncertainty, lay-offs, and how the sudden move to working and studying remotely are impacting workplaces, households, and individuals.

Employers should be mindful that employees will have different personal situations and unique needs as they navigate this global health crisis. The following are resources referenced or recommended by our panel, as well as additional credible resources to help employers support the mental health of their workforce during this uncertain time.

Resources from the Mental Health Commission of Canada

Assembling the Pieces: An Implementation Guide to the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace: An easy-to-use toolkit designed to support organizations working to implement the Standard

13 Factors: Addressing mental health in the workplace: The psychosocial factors that can impact the mental health of employees in the workplace

Being a Mindful Employee Posters: Posters that can be used to encourage conversations on methods for promoting psychologically safe places to work

VIDEO: National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (the Standard): Learn more about how implementing the Standard can address risk factors and help create a psychologically healthy and safe workplace

Implementing the National Standard: Video testimonials: Testimonials for users to learn about other organizations’ experience implementing the Standard

Mental Health First Aid COVID-19 Self-Care and Resilience Guide

Additional reading referenced in the webinar

Six tips to respond to employee anxiety about COVID-19: Tips from the Canadian Mental Health Association

Why companies need to prioritize employee mental health during the pandemic: Rita Trichur’s column in The Globe and Mail

Other resources for employers

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• COVID-19 Stress and Coping

World Health Organization

• Helping children cope with stress during COVID-19 pandemic

• Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak

• Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Resources for U.S. employers

Mental Health America

• Mental Health and COVID-19: Information and Resources

American Medical Association

• Managing mental health during COVD-19

• How to talk to your anxious child or teen about Coronavirus

National Institute of Mental Health

• Supporting Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Resources for Canadian employers

Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction

• Impacts of COVID-19 on Substance Use

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)

• Resources to support mental health

• Caring for children in the COVID-19 crisis

• Mental health self-assessment tool

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

• Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Coping with stress and anxiety

Bell Let’s Talk

• COVID-19 Tips and Resources

Government of Canada

• Mental health tips for working from home

• Centre of expertise on mental health in the workplace

• Resources for managers for mental health in the workplace

Ceridian resources

• COVID-19: Mental Health Implications webinar

• COVID-19 Central: Resource hub for employers

• COVID-19-related learning portal: Resources on COVID-19 preparedness and spread prevention, managing remote teams, and workplace mental wellness. These resources are available free-of-charge to both Dayforce customers and prospects