Mental Health in the Workplace
This commentary provides a brief synopsis of the views expressed by the authors of the invited essay "The Business Case," Sari Sairanen, Deanna Matzanke and Doug Smeall. It then discusses the authors' views in light of the Mental Health Commission's framework for a Mental Health Strategy for Canada, titled Toward Recovery and Well Being, and Dr. Martin Shain's two reports to the Mental Health Commission of Canada Stress at Work, Mental Injury and the Law in Canada and Tracking the Perfect Legal Storm. The initiatives discussed in the lead paper are then compared with a 2009 consensus statement generated at a forum co hosted by the Mental Health Commission and the Great West Life Centre for HealthcarePapers Vol. 11 Special Issue 86 It is clear that all three authors of the invited essay "The Business Case" (Sairanen et al. 2011) believe that positive change can be made. Sari Sairanen states, with respect to the Canadian Auto Workers' union (CAW) "We have and continue to focus on developing new and innovative strategies for creating a healthy supportive workplace culture." Scotiabank's representative, Deanna Matzanke, stresses the need for partnerships to obtain the best results from their Global Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. This strategy "makes the commitment to create and maintain an inclusive and accessible workplace for all its employees and recognizes diversity and inclusion as important keys to business sustainability" Matzanke notes that this commitment is supported by "a long standing and comprehensive flexible work options policy." Doug Smeall, of Sun Life Financial, reviews the rising tide of disability affecting the Canadian workplace and notes in his concluding remarks that "organizations are finding that if they address organizational culture issues that are impacting on their employees' mental health and if they actively promote health assessment and promotion programs, they positively impact employee morale, productivity and engagement." All three authors note the need for leadership and commitment to change by placing mental health high on the organizational agenda a position that reaps positive benefits for employees and employers alike. They also recognize the value of prevention, especially at the primary level before significant issues start to arise. The concept of partnership and involvement of multiple stakeholders is also stressed; much of this also aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination. Many of the ideas expressed by the three authors closely reflect the work of the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) In November 2009, following extensive consultations across the country, the MHCC released a framework of seven high level goals to transform the mental health system (broadly defined) titled Toward Recovery and Well Being (Mental Health Commission of Canada 2009) The document adopts a "comprehensive" approach that includes transforming the mental health system to one that is accessible and centred on the multiple needs of people and their families. At the same time, it includes mental health promotion and the prevention of mental health problems and illness wherever possible, eliminates stigma and discrimination, and fosters full social inclusion for people living with mental health problems and illnesses. This vision of a transformed system includes not only traditional healthcare but also the other systems in which people live out their daily life, including families, communities, schools and workplaces. Thus, elements of all seven goals for mental health system transformation (Table 1) have relevance for the workplace, and, as described below, the first, second and seventh goals are particularly important. The first goal stresses that recovery from mental health problems, in the sense of "recovering a meaningful life in the Mental Health in the Workplace. The consensus statement reflects the recommendation of the forum's 40 participants that a Canadian national standard for psychological health and safety in the workplace should be developed. People with mental health problems or illnesses have long argued that what they need is a home, a job, a friend.
Integrating Psychiatry and Primary Care