Mental health and well-being in the workplace is about a positive state of functioning.  As employees, we bring all aspects of our self, our thoughts, our experiences and our emotional ups and downs to work.  Our mental health and well-being affects how we think, feel and act, how we handle stress, how we make choices and our ability to relate to one another. For those who struggle to have a positive state of functioning, there could be fear to talk about it or seek help for fear of being labelled.

Mental health and well-being is a necessity in a healthy, productive and supportive work environment.  It is linked to productivity, decision making, positive contribution, employee retention and fostering a positive work environment. Niagara College has established a business goal to strengthen its inclusive culture which, includes mental health and well-being. By understanding more about the importance of mental health and well-being, we can all play a role in changing the conversation and culture. 

Here is a snapshot of some activities currently underway as we work towards a supportive and understanding work environment at NC:

 Programs in place to reduce stigma and increase help-seeking:

The Homewood Logo. A blue and green leaf.
  • Mental Health First Aid
    • Offered on the PD Calendar (2024-2025 Calendar coming soon)
    • Teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders
  • Full-service EFAP
    • EFAP services are offered by Homewood Health
    • The website contains on-demand learning, articles and a variety of resources
  • E.g. PulseCheck – self check in; Self-Care for the Sandwich Generation (article); Getting Adequate Sleep (article); Empathy in the Workplace (learning video); Creating Safe Spaces (podcast)
  • 2024-2025 Professional Development Calendar (coming soon)
    • Sessions facilitated by Homewood Health to promote mental health and well-being
    • Lunch and Learns on the topic of mental health
  • Working group with various student services to find natural areas of alignment between employee and student mental health

Programs to help leaders know how to support employees who are facing mental health challenges:

  • Queen’s University Mental Health Leadership Certificate
    • Offered annually through the Centre for Organizational Excellence
    • Stay tuned for our 2024-2025 PD Calendar for details on the next offering
    • Focuses on fostering leadership practices and competencies that support the development of a mentally healthy workplace
    • Equips leaders to effectively respond to and manage mental health challenges in the workplace

Policy Encouraging Work/Life Balance:

  • Remote Work Policy

At NC, we want to change the conversation and promote mental health and well-being. Here are some tips to help everyone succeed and feel supported:

  • Watch out for each other and check in with one another
  • Be comfortable asking if other members of our team are ok
  • Take advantage of training to enhance our skills, education and understand available resources
  • Support and encourage help-seeking
  • Openly talk about mental health and encourage open conversation
  • Better understand our own mental health and our resilience
  • Model and encourage use of vacation time and taking a break when needed

Stay tuned for more information to come on the work that is underway for the promotion of mental health and well-being in the workplace.  For questions about mental health and well-being in the workplace or upcoming learning, you can email [email protected].