Is Your Organization Psychologically Safe?

Seven in 10 Canadian employees report some degree of concern

Nominate a worthy organization by June 1, 2015 at www.safestemployers.com

WINNIPEG, April 30, 2015 /CNW/ - The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) defines mental health as being more than the absence of mental illness -- it's a state of well-being. Given that most people spend approximately 60 per cent of their waking hours at work, protecting psychological health and safety in the workplace is a critical component to supporting employee well-being, on par with physical health and safety.

To coincide with CMHA's Mental Health Week (May 4 – 10, 2015), the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace (the Centre) invites organizations to submit their nominations by June 1 in the psychological safety category in the Canada's Safest Employers Awards, offered by Canadian Occupational Safety.

A 2012 Ipsos Reid survey* found that seven in 10 (71 per cent) Canadian employees surveyed reported some degree of concern with psychological health and safety in their workplace, including 14 per cent who disagreed that their workplace is psychologically healthy and safe. Many of their employers may not have known how to identify or address psychological health and safety in the workplace.

In response, the national Psychological Safety Award, launched last year and sponsored by the Centre, was created to recognize an organization that is actively identifying and reducing or eliminating psychological hazards to employees in the workplace. These hazards can include bullying, harassment or chronic pressure, among other factors.

"No organization is going to be perfect, so with this award, we celebrate organizations that are pioneering efforts to protect their employees from psychological injury as part of their overall health and safety approach," says Mary Ann Baynton, Program Director for the Centre.

Baynton reminds employers that there are now ample resources in the public domain to help them foster psychological health and safety in the workplace, including those of the Centre, available in English and French, at no cost, at www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com.

Winners will be announced at a special gala in Toronto. Details are available at www.safestemployers.com.  Watch last year's winner profile video on YouTube.

About the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace
Established in 2007, the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace is a leading source of practical ideas, tools and resources designed to help with the prevention, intervention and management of workplace mental health issues.

Focused specifically on the workplace, the Centre is working to increase awareness and understanding, and to help employers take concrete steps to foster a psychologically healthy and safe workplace and manage employee mental health issues.

As part of its ongoing commitment to workplace mental health, the Centre is helping to fund the Mental Health Commission of Canada's three-year research project into the experiences of over 40 organizations across Canada that are currently working towards implementation of the National Standard of Canada on Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, including Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life. The case studies will ultimately be shared broadly so that all organizations can learn from the experiences of the participating organizations.

Visit the Centre's website at www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com.

Follow the Centre through Great-West Life's social media accounts: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and YouTube

SOURCE Great-West Life Assurance Company