Psychological health and safety
Summary: Psychological health and safety in a workplace deals with the risk of injury to the psychological well-being of employees. It includes taking precautions to avert risks that are within the influence and responsibility of an employer. These free resources can help.
For leaders
The risks to the psychological well-being of employees could include workload stress, harassment and discrimination. Where to start with psychological health and safety could provide a helpful overview. Evidence-based actions for psychological heath and safety break down potential strategies that align with the psychosocial factors identified in the National Standard that provides a framework for implementing a management system.
Psychological health and safety 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.
Psychological health means being able to think, feel and behave in a way where we can effectively manage at work, at home and in society. Psychological health problems occur on a spectrum. It could be as common as something like fatigue to something more severe like a psychological disorder. Psychological health can be affected by genetics, family life, and physical health. It can also be affected by work.
Not sure where to begin in addressing psychological health and safety in your workplace? We can help. You will find steps to get buy-in, communicate the plan and support continual improvement.
Suggested actions are based on research or practice that can improve each psychosocial factor. In most cases, you'll find free resources to help you move forward with or without funding.
Learn about Guarding Minds and how to use it to take action on psychological health and safety at work.
Learn how to implement the National Standard on Psychological Health and Safety in the workplace. These guidelines include many free resources and can help support your success.
Learn how Canada became the first country to have a national standard for psychological health and safety and how this has evolved since then.
Address discrimination and promote inclusion through your policies and processes. You’ll help create a positive work environment that supports all employees to thrive and succeed.
These ideas may help you to create and implement a supportive policy for those who’ve experienced a loss. You’ll find resources about clarifying the details of leave and implementing the policy.
Ask yourself these questions to get a picture of what's going on with you right now. Take this list to your health professional to help them provide you with wellness options.
This resource helps to assess how employees experience being a member of your team.