October 10 is World Mental Health Day
The theme for World Mental Health Day 2023 is “Mental health is a universal human right”. World Mental Health Day was first recognized in 1992. At that time, it was an initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health. Prior to the pandemic, the World Health Organization estimated that one in eight people suffered with a mental health condition. This number has only grown through the struggles of the last three years.
And yet, there is still such stigma and discrimination around talking about mental health. These continue to be barriers to accessing treatment and support. Discussing mental-health challenges at work is at best a difficult thing. Change is coming, but it is slow.
The newly negotiated collective agreement for public-service employees represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada includes continued support of the Centre for Expertise on Mental Health. The Centre was created in 2017 to guide and support federal organizations in implementing the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. Its focus is to guide and support federal organizations in improving mental health in the workplace.
The JLP supports and upholds the principles of the National Standard by creating a structure and space for managers and employees to come together to discuss mental health challenges and issues they all face. Both Mental Health in the Workplace and Mental Health: Let’s Talk! allow employees and managers to find common ground to examine and change workplace culture around mental health.
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