Unifor was a proud participant in a three year case study undertaken by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) on the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (the Standard). Its purpose was to investigate the progress of Canadian organizations, including Unifor, that were implementing the Standard. The study tracked a marked improvement in compliance with the Standard, including increased access to Employee Assistance Programs tailored to mental health and greater awareness of mental health in the workplace.
Read the full MHCC study here
The concept of workplace health and safety continues to evolve. A growing body of research identifies mental illness as a workplace issue, with significant economic consequences for Canada. Today, businesses, unions and governments are equipping themselves to better manage the psychological well-being of workers.
According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, more than 500,000 Canadians will not go to work because of mental illness each week; more than 30% of disability claims and 70% of disability costs are attributed to mental illness; and approximately $51 billion each year are lost to the Canadian economy because of mental illness. In 2013, Canada became the first country in the world to establish a National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace.
Check out: National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace
Check out: Canadian Mental Health Association, Mental Health and Work Life Balance
Check out: Health Impact of Psychosocial Hazards at Work: An Overview, by the World Health Organization
Check out: Bell Canada’s ‘Let’s Talk’ Campaign