Managing Stress and Mental Health in the Workplace
Improving Conditions, Increasing Productivity, and Accommodating Your Workforce
Conference: December 2, 2008
Ottawa, Ontario
Managing Stress and Mental Health in the Workplace
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
| 8:00 - 9:00 |
Registration and Continental Breakfast |
8:00 - 9:00 |
9:00 - 9:15
Welcome and Opening Remarks from the Chair
Representative, Emond Harnden LLP
9:15 - 10:15
Assessing and Approaching and Employee with Mental Distress
Dr. Liz R. Scott, Principal, Organizational Solutions
- Key signs for identifying mental disabilities and stress
- How to approach the employee; avoiding common errors
- Tools and resources available
- Examples of workplace scenarios
| 10:15 - 10:30 |
Networking Break |
10:15 - 10:30 |
10:30 - 11:30
Understanding the Long-Term Damage and Impact of Untreated Mental Distress
Dr. Douglas Saunders, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Deptartment of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto; Past-President, Ontario Psychological Association
- Understanding the human impact of untreated mental illness activity, and consequences on social welfare
- financial and productivity consequences
- decreased rate of recovery for individual
- increase of overall cost
- substance abuse
- homelessness
- criminal activity
- unemployment
- suicide
11:30 - 12:30
Case Study
Promoting Mental Health Awareness in the Workplace: One Organization's Campaign
Marla Simlett, Senior EAP Advisor, Employee Assistance Program, Canada Revenue Agency
- Leveraging an employee assistance program to promote mental health awareness
- Developing initiatives aimed toward sensitizing and supporting managers
- Increasing awareness and reducing stigma in employee populations
- Successes and challenges
| 12:30 - 1:45 |
Luncheon Break |
12:30 - 1:45 |
1:45 - 2:45
Mental Health in the Workplace: Shifting Paradigms
LCol Stephane Grenier, Operational Stress Injury Special Advisor, Department of National Defence
- Translating complex mental health clinical terminology into germane language for managers and business leaders
- Introducing key strategic messages to encourage reduction of mental health stigma in the workplace
- Reviewing the Canadian Forces' "Mental Health Continuum Model"
- Addressing social determinants of mental health in the workplace by introducing peer support as a priority directive
| 2:45 - 3:00 |
Networking Break |
2:45 - 3:00 |
3:00 - 4:00
Confidentiality and Privacy Policies: What, How Much, and to Whom You Can Divulge Informations
Representative, Emond Harnden LLP
- Legislative requirements to protect employee privacy and confidentiality
- Rights and obligations for sharing medical information with others
- Employer rights to receive and request medical information: when and how much?
- Requests from third parties: how much you are allowed to divulge and under which circumstances
- Information exchange between employee, employer, and union
4:00 - 5:00
Accommodating Stress and Mental Disabilities
Dr. Liz R. Scott, Principal, Organizational Solutions
- Role of the employer in identifying possible mental and psychological disabilities
- Methods to deal effectively with employees suspected of having mental health problems
- Accommodating employees with mental disabilities
- Long-term strategies for maintaining productivity in employees with mental disabilities
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