New course offers leadership strategies for workplace mental health issues

Increased late arrivals or absences. Lack of co-operation and the inability to work with others. Decreased productivity. Increased accidents. Poor concentration, memory or decision-making. Missed deadlines and lower work quality. Displays of anger or defensiveness.

When these behaviours are persistent in an individual, they could be signs of a mental health issue, according to the instructor of Continuing Education’s new course, Leadership Strategies for Workplace Mental Health.

Leaders, managers and supervisors are often expected to provide support to employees who are experiencing or recovering from mental health issues. Ask yourself if you have the skills to identify and respond to the complex situations involving mental health in the workplace, and how you would foster a culture of collaboration and support, both keys to a healthy work environment.

Why does workplace mental health matter?

Let’s look at the numbers. According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada:

• 60 per cent of working adults do not uncover their mental health issue in the workplace for fear of being labelled
• 500,000 Canadians, in any given week, are unable to work due to mental health problems or illnesses 
• One in three workplace disability claims are related to mental health problems or illnesses
• More adult working Canadians are spending more time at work than anywhere else

Strategies for managing workplace mental health

Responding to this growing workplace need, Continuing Education, in collaboration with Homewood Health — UCalgary’s Employee and Family Assistance provider — has developed a new online course designed to provide leaders with the strategies to navigate the complex issues related to workplace mental health.

“It made a lot of sense for us to collaborate with our employee and family assistance provider to offer this course,” says Sheila LeBlanc, continuing education director, “to provide the content expertise and broaden our reach to a national audience of learners.”

The instructor is UCalgary alumna Ronaye Coulson, who holds a Master of Science degree in counselling psychology. She has conducted research in the area of resilience for over six years and has been a therapist for 15 years.

“Mental illness is prevalent in our country (and therefore in every workplace) yet we rarely talk about it or know how to deal with it,” says Coulson. “As a result, many suffer in silence under the weight of stigma, without support.

“This course helps those in leadership positions gain valuable awareness and skills to change the mental health landscape in their organization and feel more comfortable and resourced in supporting their employees. It also helps expand the focus from not just supporting mental illness when it does arise, but also to prevention and promotion of well-being and thriving in their workplace.”

Find a full listing of Continuing Education courses in mental health and psychology.