October is Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month

Health and safety are more than just physical.

From October 1 to October 31, organizations from coast to coast participate in Canada’s Healthy Workplace month, (CHWM), a national initiative that focuses on raising awareness around the importance of workplace mental health. The Canadian Mental Health Association Nova Scotia Division (CMHA NS) is proud to support this initiative year round by offering programs that help employers boost mental health and improve workplace culture.

About Canada’s Mental Health in the Workplace month: Founded in 2001, with the introduction of Canada’s Healthy Workplace Week. The web-based initiatives intent is to build awareness of the importance of healthy workplace health for the short and long-term success of organizations and for the well-being of their employees. The week was eventually extended to become Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month®. The extended program duration gave workplaces more time to plan, promote and execute programs and activities for their employees. Today, CHWM is a year round resource that encourages workplaces to promote healthy workplace practices throughout the year. Its website serves as a central hub where organizations of all sizes are enabled to showcase their successes and share with others.

The goals of Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month® (CHWM) are to:

• Increase awareness of the need for a comprehensive approach to workplace health in Canada that is influenced by the four elements of a healthy workplace: (1) Healthy Lifestyles; (2) Workplace Culture and Mental Health; (3) Physical Environment and; (4) Corporate Social Responsibility.
• Provide healthy workplace tools, resources and best practice examples, through www.healthyworkplacemonth.ca, to help organizations create healthy workplaces with benefits for employees and themselves
• Increase the number of healthy workplaces in Canada

Programs and Training currently offered by CMHA NS:

Programs:

At-Work: Mental illness doesn’t need to be an obstacle to employment. In fact, in certain mental illness may be correlated with success. CMHA’s At-Work team provides support services to people with mental illness across Nova Scotia. Each At-Work team member provides assistance with a comprehensive job search, one-on-one peer support, resume development and interview guidance and job placement, as well as individualized continued support. For employers, team members provide wage subsidies available for up to four months, ongoing case management to foster employer-employee success and motivated, trained, skilled candidates who are ready to work. This program is available to anyone in need of work with mental health or addictions issue living in Nova Scotia (no diagnosis required).

Learn more

Rebuilding our Resilience: When something goes wrong, do you tend to bounce back or fall apart? When you have resilience, you harness inner strength that helps you rebound from a setback or challenge, such as a job loss, an illness, a disaster or loss. Resilience won’t make your problems go away — but it can give you the ability to see past them, find enjoyment in life and manage stress. If you aren’t as resilient as you’d like to be, you can develop skills to become more resilient. Becoming more resilient not only helps you get through difficult circumstances, it also empowers you to grow and even improve your life along the way. This workshop offers tips and techniques to manage stress, strengthen coping skills and learn to thrive. ** This workshop is free to access version of Rebuilding our Resilience is is currently being offered in Antigonish, Guysborough, Shelburne, Pictou, Halifax, Queens County, Kings County, Hants County and Annapolis County.**

Training: 

Mental Health in the Workplace:  When we feel good, physically and mentally, we’re more likely to thrive at work. When we’re suffering, our work suffers. Companies with high levels of mental health awareness report less absenteeism, higher employee retention and a stronger workforce. Mental Health in the Workplace provides EMPLOYEES and EMPLOYERS with the tools and resources to successfully establish and maintain a healthy workplace. Learn More

Stress Management: Everyone feels stressed from time to time — it’s a natural part of our everyday lives. When stress is overwhelming, is your tendency to turn to unhealthy coping strategies? Who in your social circle is available for you when needed? What strategies are you using to manage stress when it occurs? Sign up for our Stress Management workshop and learn the importance of recognizing stress factors, evaluating stress responses, and managing stress with positive self-care strategies. Learn More