Workplace mental health

A psychologically healthy workplace is a respectful and productive environment that promotes health and well-being and makes every reasonable effort to protect employees from work-related psychological harm.

On this page

• Organizational strategies
• Approaches for people leaders
• Resources for employees
• Assessments, tools and workshops

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Organizational strategies

Why do we talk about mental health at work?

There is no health without mental health. The BC Public Service prioritizes mental health in the workplace to enhance employee well-being, leading to a healthier, more productive, and successful organization. Discussing mental health in the workplace is vital for creating a supportive, connected, inclusive, and productive work environment.

Creating a mentally healthy workplace

The BC Public Service is taking steps to adopt the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, addressing workplace factors that may impact employee mental well-being.  The Standard is a voluntary set of guidelines, tools and resources designed to help employers make every reasonable effort to protect employees from work-related psychological harm. It is focused on promoting employees’ psychological health and preventing psychological harm due to workplace factors.

13 Factors: addressing mental health in the workplace

The 13 Psychosocial Factors are key elements that impact employees' psychological health and safety in the workplace. By identifying and addressing these factors, employers can create a supportive work environment that promotes mental health and well-being.

Shared responsibility: employers and employees

Workplace mental health is a joint effort between employers and employees. The employer’s role is to establish policies, processes and resources. The role of employees is to manage their mental health and seek assistance when required.

To learn more complete the 20-minute BC Public Service Orientation to Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace.

Psychological health & safety at WorkSafeBC

WorkSafeBC recognizes that psychological health and safety in the workplace is as crucial as physical safety. This concept encompasses daily interactions, working conditions, and management practices.

For more details, visit Psychological health & safety at WorkSafeBC

Approaches for people leaders

The following workshops are now available for registration via the Learning Centre:

• Managing Mental Health in the Workplace (Restricted to People Leaders)
• Stress Management for Leaders (Restricted to People Leaders)

You also have access to the People Leader Advice line through Employee and Family Assistance Services:

• People Leader Advice Line

Workplace mental health toolkit

This self-directed, Workplace Mental Health Toolkit is a starting place for leaders to enhance employee mental health in the workplace. Crafted with the intention of promoting a healthier work environment and organizational success, it provides a step-by-step process for creating a tailored action plan for your workplace.

Workplace mental health job aids for people leaders

The self-serve, Workplace Mental Health Job Aids for People Leaders outline the workplace psychosocial factors and offer suggested actions and resource links to help establish and foster healthy and safe workplaces for all employees.  Each job aid corresponds with one of the 13 Psychosocial Factors affecting workplace mental health.

Resources for employees

The Mental Health Continuum is a model for evaluating the relationship between mental health and well-being in three major categories:

• Good mental health
• Declining/poor mental health 
• Possible diagnosable mental illness or disorder 

This 14-minute video introduces the Mental Health Continuum and walks you through its use in the workplace and as part of your mental health self-check process.

• Mental health continuum self-check (IDIR restricted)
• Supportive conversations handout (IDIR restricted)
• Employee and Family Assistance Services – counselling and lifestyle management services
• Workplace Health and Safety page on the Learning HUB (IDIR restricted)
• LifeSpeak learning library
• Mental Health and Substance Use supports across B.C. Helpstartshere.gov.bc.ca

Assessments, tools and workshops

• Workplace Strategies for Mental Health
• YouTube - 13 Factors: Addressing Mental Health in the Workplace
• Early intervention and return to work program – for employees
• Early intervention and return to work program – for supervisors
• Psychosocial factors performance manual mapping tool (XLSX, 493KB)
• Psychosocial hazards self-assessment (PDF, 1.2MB)
• BC Public Service Orientation to Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace
• Assembling the Pieces: An Implementation Guide to the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace