Workplace mental health

Psychological Health and Safety in the BC Public Service

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
• Resources for people leaders
• Resources for employees
• Assessments, tools and workshops

Organizational strategies

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

Psychosocial hazards at work are aspects of work and situations that may cause a stress response which in turn has the potential to lead to psychological or physical harm.

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 health.  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.

Psychosocial risk factors

The psychosocial risk 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 positive mental health and well-being.

Shared responsibility: employers and employees

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

Resources 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

Psychosocial hazards assessment toolkit

This self-directed toolkit is designed for people leaders, HR professionals, and health and safety specialists to assess psychosocial hazards in the workplace. It provides a structured approach to identifying, assessing, and managing hazards that may impact employees' mental and physical health. This assessment can be completed by anyone in a supervisory or managerial role. It's a proactive tool to help maintain a supportive and productive workplace.

Psychosocial risk factors and resources

 The self-serve, Psychological risk factors and resources 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 psychosocial  risk 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 Learning Resource Page for All Employees (IDIR resctricted)
• 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)
• 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