The Working Mind training program focuses on mental health in the workplace, with a session focused on employees and another catered to leaders and people managers. A training program focused on mental health in the workplace is available to all Brock employees free of charge.
Developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, The Working Mind training is an education-based program designed to address and promote mental health and reduce the stigma of mental illness in a workplace setting.
Two online training sessions are available to Brock employees: a three-hour program for faculty, staff and librarians and a seven-hour program for those who manage or lead people.
The Working Mind training for employees will take place Tuesday, April 12 from 9 a.m. to noon, while The Working Mind training for managers is scheduled over two mornings: Tuesday, April 19 from 9 a.m. to noon and Wednesday, April 20 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
“Addressing and promoting mental health is of the utmost importance, but most especially as we continue to navigate and emerge from the pandemic,” said Martina Ciglenecki, Health Management Consultant with Brock’s Health, Safety and Wellness team. “Brock is committed to enhancing communication surrounding mental health, reducing stigma and creating a campus that is respectful of diversity and promotes dignity and respect.”
The employee version of The Working Mind training will offer practical knowledge to increase participants’ comfort with mental illness and improve resilience. Employees will learn how to recognize signs of mental health distress in themselves and others, become more comfortable supporting colleagues with mental health problems and develop methods for maintaining their own mental health.
The training designed for managers and people leaders will discuss strategies managers can use to support their employees through the Mental Health Continuum Model and assess employees’ mental health along the continuum. Managers will develop the knowledge and skills to create a safe environment to have open and honest conversations about mental health concerns, encourage employees to seek support in developing coping strategies and offer employees workplace accommodation.
Sandy Howe, Director, Enrolment Supports, is a past participant of The Working Mind manager training who regularly teaches mental health training focused on youth. She said that although many people are becoming more comfortable discussing mental health with their families and friends, the workplace setting has additional layers to navigate.
“The Working Mind training was beneficial for me because it really focused on supporting colleagues in the workplace — everything from how to listen when someone is struggling, right through to putting accommodations in place to support an employee returning from a mental health-related leave of absence,” Howe said. “I personally believe that when teams and employees are well, it shows in their job performance, so for me, this training gave me plenty of tools to assist in building a strong and healthy team.”
To learn more about The Working Mind, and to register for the free mental health training, visit Focus on Learning.
