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ACB Wellness Newsletter

Featured - Issue 4

ACB Wellness Newsletter (Issue 4)

In this Issue:

  • Issue 4 contributors

  • What is stigma?

  • Where does stigma come from?

  • Making it safe to discuss mental health in the workplace

  • Addressing mental health stigma in the workplace

About Issue 4

Most Canadians spend a significant amount of time working to earn a living. As a result, workplaces are almost like second homes. Hence the importance of work-life balance. Our workplaces can be our best refuge or a source of distress. Work can impact our wellness in many ways, from how we interact with each other, to how valued we feel. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes their potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can contribute to their community.” To support one another and create a culture of wellness at work, we can start by addressing the impacts of stigma attached to mental health issues. Mental health is not just the absence of mental illness, it is also about our overall wellbeing. In this issue, Michele and Marya highlight the importance of making environments safe to talk about mental health openly. NorQuesters can also learn more about this topic by enrolling in the “The Working Mind” workshop on campus. 

We all feel low at times, but how do we know when to seek mental health support? To collaborate and for more information email ACBWellness@norquest.ca.

Issue Contributors

 

Michele Deis (PHEc) has been a Culture Development Consultant at NorQuest College since 2012. Michele sees her purpose in life to set others up for success and her motto is “I like to give back by getting involved.” She is a University of Alberta alumni where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics, and a Business certificate in HR Management.  Michele has used her expertise to work with sexually exploited youth and adults living with HIV. This tapestry of human experiences led colleagues to ask Michele to deliver workshops on professional boundaries and universal precautions, which resulted in her to specializing in learning and development. She is certified to deliver The Working Mind, MBTI, Everything DiSC, and so much more! Through her varied experience Michele has also earned a Professional Human Ecologist designation (PHEc). 

Marya has been at NorQuest College since 2021, bringing expertise in psychological health and safety to her consulting roles. Marya has contributed to the research on suicide prevention in Indigenous communities and has supported women experiencing domestic violence, making her a thought leader in trauma-informed approaches. With an academic foundation in Neuroscience from Dalhousie University, and Psychological Assessment from Concordia University of Edmonton, Marya combines her knowledge with a passion for cultivating wellness in the workplace.

Stigma

What is mental health stigma?

Stigma is the overarching term that encompasses the processes of labeling, separation, prejudice, and discrimination. Ignorance regarding mental illness spreads fear and misinformation, resulting in individuals being labeled and stereotyped. Stigma affects how people think, feel, and act toward others who are deemed to be different.

  • Stigma is a label, mark, or brand that we attribute to people who are different. 
  • Prejudice is negative beliefs, attitudes, or stereotypes about specific groups of people.
  • Discrimination is the behaviors or actions that result from prejudice (i.e., actions or policies directed towards people that may deny basic rights.)

Pyramind with arrows going both ways along the sides of the pyramid. The bottom of the pyramid has

Figure 1.  Link, B.G., & Phelan, J.C. (2001). Conceptualizing stigma. Annual Review of Sociology, 27, 363–385. Thornicroft, G., Rose, D., Kassam A., & Sartorius, N. (2007). Stigma: Ignorance, prejudice or discrimination? British Journal of Psychiatry, 190, 192–193.

 

Where does mental health stigma come from?
 

Our preconceived ideas about mental health can come from anywhere, see examples below:

 

Making it safe to discuss mental health challenges
 

Destigmatizing mental health conversations is step one for creating a safe space for people to seek support, discuss their concerns, and learn from each other. Stigma is one of the biggest barriers to good mental health, with many indicating the stigma is worse than the condition itself. By decreasing stigma about mental health, we allow vulnerable conversations to happen on a human-to-human level. Normalizing conversations about mental health allows us to challenge prejudicial and discriminatory attitudes, and support ourselves, and each other.

 

Addressing mental health stigma in the workplace



 

Destigmatizing mental health conversations is step one for creating a safe space for people to seek support, discuss their concerns, and learn from each other. Stigma is one of the biggest barriers to good mental health, with many indicating the stigma is worse than the condition itself. By decreasing stigma about mental health, we allow vulnerable conversations to happen on a human-to-human level. Normalizing conversations about mental health allows us to challenge prejudicial and discriminatory attitudes, and support ourselves, and each other.

Professional Development

Professional development
 

The Mental Health Commission of Canada offers two evidence-based courses proven to create a more supportive and stigma-free workplace: Mental Health First Aid and The Working Mind. 

  • Mental Health First Aid aims to improve mental health literacy and provide the skills and knowledge to help people better manage potential or developing mental health problems in themselves, a family member, a friend, or a colleague.
  • The Working Mind aims to increase awareness of mental health, reduce stigma and other barriers to care in the workplace, encourage mental health conversations, strengthen employees’ (and leadership) resilience so they can maintain or regain wellness, and skills to support themselves and others living with a mental health problem or illness. 
  • The Inquiring Mind is a 4-hour workshop, geared towards learners, that discusses resiliency tools, stigma reduction, and the Mental Health Continuum Model. It was adapted from The Working Mind training, and informed by student and faculty from the University of Calgary.


Online tools & resources
 


Practices & behaviours
 

  • Use person-first language, click here for examples 
  • Model vulnerability by sharing your own experiences with mental health
  • Educate yourself on mental health 
  • Be a compassionate listener
  • Avoid making comparisons that might diminish someone’s experience
  • Apologize if you’ve used incorrect language 
  • Be kind to yourself
  • Support employee participation and decision-making
  • Speak up when you observe stigmatizing workplace behavior
  • Recognize actions and behaviors that reinforce mental health stigma using the STOP criteria:
    • Stereotypes of people experiencing mental health challenges 
    • Trivializes the condition or person experiencing mental health challenges
    • Offends by insulting people with mental health conditions
    • Patronizes by treating those with mental health conditions as less than other people

References

References
 

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. (2024). Healthy minds at work. https://www.ccohs.ca/healthyminds

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. (2024). Mental health - Stigma. https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/mh/mentalhealth_stigma.html#section-4-hdr

Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario. (2024). Stigma and discrimination. https://ontario.cmha.ca/documents/stigma-and-discrimination/

Government of Canada. (2018). Mental health in the workplace. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/health-safety/mental-health.html

Mental Health Commission of Canada. (n.d.). Language matters cheat sheet. https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/wp-content/uploads/drupal/2020-08/language_matters_cheat_sheet_eng.pdf

Mental Health Commission of Canada. (2024). National standard. https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/national-standard/

Workplace Strategies for Mental Health. (2024). Workplace strategies for mental health. https://www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com/

World Health Organization. (2024). Mental health. https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental-health

Standards:

Canadian Standards Association & Bureau de normalisation du Québec. (2013). National standard of Canada for psychological health and safety in the workplace. Canadian Standards Association & Bureau de Normalisation du Québec.

Journal Articles:

Link, B. G., & Phelan, J. C. (2001). Conceptualizing stigma. Annual Review of Sociology, 27, 363–385.

Thornicroft, G., Rose, D., Kassam, A., & Sartorius, N. (2007). Stigma: Ignorance, prejudice or discrimination? British Journal of Psychiatry, 190, 192–193.

Mental health resource

Where to seek help and some mental health resources
 

Considerations:
  • Primary Care Physician: Start by consulting your primary care doctor, who can assess your symptoms, provide initial guidance, and make referrals if needed.
     
  • Mental Health Professionals: Consider seeing a mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, counselor, or therapist. They can offer therapy, diagnosis, and treatment options.
     
  • Helplines and Crisis Services: If you're in crisis or need immediate support, contact helplines like the distress like line or crisis text lines.
     
  • Support Groups: Support groups, both in-person and online, provide peer support and a safe space to discuss mental health concerns.
     
  • Community Mental Health Centers: Local mental health centers often offer a range of services, including therapy and counseling.
     

Where to seek mental health support
 

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