Crisis
Summary: Employees in crisis are more likely to experience challenges with their overall well-being and workplace effectiveness. HR plays a vital role in ensuring compliance with employment laws, implementing and promoting employee assistance programs, fostering a supportive culture, and offering training for both employees and managers on mental health awareness and support. These free resources can help.
For individuals
Triggers to trauma are subjective experiences for each individual. Managing trauma at work provides grounding exercises, tips and suggested steps you can take to help manage trauma while at work.
For leaders
How leaders respond to employees in time of distress significantly influences the overall well-being of the workforce and the resilience of the organizational culture. Crisis response for leaders offers strategies to prevent, prepare for and react effectively when an employee is in distress.
Individuals diagnosed with psychotic disorders may refrain from disclosing this information due to societal stigmas. However, leaders are still tasked with the challenge of supporting employees experiencing psychosis until professional help arrives. When employees feel their leaders are equipped to provide support, it encourages openness and trust in the workplace.
Suicide response for leaders provides leaders with strategies for supporting employees in the aftermath of a co-worker's suicide or suicide attempt, emphasizing the importance of respect, sensitivity, and a thoughtful workplace response to address the impact on co-workers and ensure a successful return to work for those affected.
Crisis articles and resources
The list that follows includes the resources linked to above as well as related information that may be more specific to your current situation:
Strategies to prevent, prepare for and react effectively in times of distress. Thoughtful measures can help you facilitate the best possible response while reducing stress for everyone involved.
How to help someone who is experiencing psychosis until professional help arrives or the crisis resolves. Learn about warning signs, symptoms, de-escalation and how to be supportive and safe.
Strategies for supporting employees when a co-worker has died by or attempted suicide. This resource covers return to work for an employee who has attempted suicide.
Trauma is a subjective experience for everyone. This is also true for the way we interact and respond to triggering situations after experiencing a traumatic event. On this page, you’ll find steps you can take to help manage trauma.
Questions for assessing an employee's propensity for violence in the workplace. Consider recommending that the employee see a trauma counsellor.
Actions to protect psychological safety for employees who are new to the country. Learn about the value immigrants can bring to your organization and how to support their needs.
Free online tool by Psychological Foundation of Canada for practical problem-solving to address the source of your stress.