Imagine working in a highly productive environment in which
you feel safe, respected and valued; the work is challenging,
the demands of the job are reasonable, you have work-life bal-ance
and your employer supports your involvement in your work
and interpersonal growth and development. This is what is known
as a mentally healthy workplace.
What is mental health?
The World Health Organization defines mental health not merely as
the absence of disease, but also as a feeling of well-being in which
the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the
normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is
able to make a contribution to his or her community.
In the workplace, the traditional view of health and safety now
includes a comprehensive approach that incorporates the total
well-being and mental health of employees, also referred to as psy-chological
health and safety. Psychological health and safety refers
to the safeguarding of employees’ psychological health, promotes
employees’ psychological (mental) well-being and actively works to
prevent harm due to negligent, reckless or intentional acts.
The most common psychological health problems in the work-place
are anxiety and depression. Poor mental health in the work-place
has far reaching negative impacts: hurting the individual,
Workplace
Mental
Health
Matters
Creating a safe space
for your staff
Submitted by The Canadian Centre for
Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)
38 Think BIG | Quarter 2 2016 | saskheavy.ca
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