Information is Useless without Action: How to rapidly impact workplace mental health

There is growing information that workplace mental health is becoming a more significant challenge (e.g., YOY increases in STD/LTD & WCB claims due to mental illness). Knowing workers’ mental health is a growing concern is not enough. Assuming that simply introducing programs and policies will be enough to have an impact is a common mistake.

To positively impact workplace mental health, employers must understand what psychosocial risk factors and hazards are creating considerable strain on workers and leaders. They must then discover what protective factors they can facilitate by using a Plan – Do – Check – Act approach to reducing mental harm and promoting mental health. Transformation and impactful workplace mental health initiatives drive worker engagement and productivity and lower sick time and disability costs, contributing to a secure and sustainable workforce. In 2020, companies with the highest workforce treatment scores in Just Capital’s rankings outperformed the Russell 1000 by 4.7 percent.

Dr. Bill Howatt, an international expert in workplace mental health, will provide professionals tasked with facilitating workplace mental health a framework for putting your organization on the right track to transforming workplace mental health. All workers and leaders have mental health. How effectively employers and employees promote and protect workplace mental health determines how a work culture becomes psychologically safe and healthy. There are no shortcuts and no magic fixes to workplace mental health. Rapid workplace mental health transformation requires a commitment to continuous improvement, collecting data, engaging workers, measuring, reporting, and auditing.

Meet the Presenter

Dr. Bill Howatt, founder and CEO of Howatt HR, refers to himself as a behavioural scientist with a keen curiosity for how employees and employers can work together to reduce mental harm and promote mental health in the workplace. He is known internationally and is one of Canada’s top experts in workplace psychological health and safety. Dr. Bill is on the CSA OHS Standards Steering Committee and Chair of the CSA Standard Z1008: Management of Substance Related Impairment in the Workplace. He is the co-creator of the Psychologically Safe Workplace Awards.