The Working Mind
Author: Lianna Chondo, City of Edmonton
As many Edmontonians begin returning to workplaces, our awareness of being physically and mentally well at work is heightened. We know that maintaining mental health doesn't end when we begin our workday, so how can workplaces best promote the mental health of its workforce? The Working Mind (TWM) has one set of answers.
The Working Mind was created by the Mental Health Commission of Canada as a means of supporting organizations to create workplace cultures that foster awareness, reduce stigma and support mental health and well being. It is an evidence-based program that offers useful and practical knowledge. The training helps employees and management identify mental health concerns, learn additional coping skills, develop further resilience and better manage stress.
The City of Edmonton began offering TWM in 2019 as a way to further better ensure the workplace environment respected and involved all City employees, including those with mental health concerns. Initial training was provided for People Leaders and focused on how to support employees’ mental health and well-being at work. Beginning with leadership was an important way in which a commitment to mental health could be demonstrated.
The Working Mind is then offered to employees in a four hour course. It is here that employees are provided scenario-based lessons, reference guides, practical handouts as well as videos featuring people with lived experience. The primary element of the training is the Mental Health Continuum tool, which participants can use to do a self-check and discuss mental health with others. Using colors to talk about mental health helps prevent people from using stigmatizing labels. It also discourages us from diagnosing others, which should be left to health care professionals.
By the end of the training, employees are able to better understand mental health and mental illness, how to reduce stigma felt by people with mental health problems, support colleagues and maintain their own mental health. Cindy Driscoll, a TWM facilitator, shared “I was able to recognize the signs and indicators of a decline in my own mental health and identify the strategies I could use to help myself. Through facilitating The Working Mind, I want to help my peers around the City to do the same.”
For those interested in the Working Mind training for their organization, please email theworkingmind@mentalhealthcommission.ca.