Understanding the workplace mental health landscape
Presenter(s)
Ian Lewis, OT. Reg. (SK)
Occupational therapists are immersed in workplace mental health. They participate in their own workplaces and facilitate change and participation for clients in their workplaces. Popular media and organizations may encourage individual-focused interventions to improve health and participation. This is contrary to the research evidence recommended by many leading organizations (e.g., World Health Organization & International Labour Organization, 2022). Occupational therapists have a role in advocating for evidence-informed interventions for individuals and organizations to support workplace mental health. This workshop aims to increase occupational therapists’ knowledge and ability to act in workplace mental health for health promotion, prevention of harm, and rehabilitation. This workshop will combine the validated theories of Psychosocial Safety Climate (Dollard et al., 2012), Job Demands-Resources (Bakker & Demerouti, 2017), and Conservation of Resources (Hobfoll et al., 2018) with current intervention evidence to provide an in-depth primer on workplace mental health. It will examine how various structures, norms, leaders, and co-workers affect individuals’ participation and health. It will explore the development and recovery of individual-level experiences of burnout and common mental health disorders intervening on both a group and individual level. Large and small group discussions will be utilized to support participants in learning how to critically choose and advocate for evidence-informed interventions for individuals and organizations that promote health, prevent harm, and facilitate return to the workplace.
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to: Understand the connection and mechanism between working conditions and mental health based on empirically-validated models and high-quality research. Understand the spectrum of various workplace mental health activities and where they fit within best practice recommendations. Critically choose interventions for individuals and organizations in line with research evidence and international guidelines. Please note: Each participant is responsible to ensure they apply the information within the context of their licensure, provincial/territorial legislations, institution regulations, scope of practice, etc.
Please note: The workshop content will be geared towards those with 3-5 years of experience. Participants with more or less than this stated level of experience are welcome to attend the workshop.