Introduction to Psychological Health in the OT Workplace

This series of five 10-15 minute audiovideo presentations provides a general review of psychological wellbeing and safety in the occupational therapy workplace.  It was originally presented as part of a course for MScOT students at the University of Alberta.

Components of Psychological Health and Safety in the Occupational Therapy workplace

Click here to go to a series of short YouTube clips and companion brochures that explore the multiple components of psychological health and safety, resources for action and other relevant policy documents.  The material was prepared by MScOT students at the University of Alberta in Nov 2015. 

The series of resources at this link are idea when time for continuing professional education is short.  Each clip builds on the preceding but can be watched in any order as the need arises.  

The self-test questions that must be complted before you receive a certificate of completion are based on information in these presentations.

Wellness in the Workplace: Focusing on Mental Fitness

Conference Board of Canada, August 11, 2015 Recorded Webinar- Check with your organization to see if they have a membership that allows you to view this archived webinar for free.

Webinar Highlights

During this 60-minute webinar, participants will learn about the impact of an intentional focus on mental fitness, by discussing:

• A rationale for positive mental health approaches in the workplace

• The Integrated Wellness Platform

• Mental Fitness awareness and actions

• Assessing and planning for positive mental health

A focus on positive mental health has the ability to increase a person's capacity for enjoyment and to better react to everyday challenges. Promoting the use of positive mental health and strength-based approaches in the workplace involves not only shifting attitudes and beliefs about people, but also reframing the way we communicate, interact and work with others. When such methods are applied, emerging issues or problems become opportunities for pursuing positive and healthy change. Promoting well-being and positive mental health can be achieved through focusing on a concept called mental fitness.

Mental fitness has been defined as a psychological state that can be achieved through the following three needs:

• Relatedness: Reciprocity and relationships. Our need for connection to family, peers, and other significant individuals.

• Competency: Recognizing and using our gifts and strengths in achieving our personal goals.

• Autonomy: Being active participants in making choices that affect our lives.

Working Through It: Stories of Reclaiming Well-Being at Work

Working Through It (sponsored by Great West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace) is a collection of videos where real people share their stories and strategies for managing their mental health in the workplace. The Working Thought It resource can be used in workplaces in a number of ways:

• As a private resource for individuals who may be struggling with health, personal, financial or workplace issues, and are looking for practical strategies and inspirational stories to help them cope.

• To provide awareness education for supervisors, managers, union stewards or other leaders whose responsibilities include supporting or managing employees who may have mental health issues.

• As a cost-effective and time-efficient workplace awareness campaign. For example you can subscribe to an email service that sends you a five-minute educational opportunity each week. These will include links to one of the short video clips or to a document that helps us understand approaches to mental wellness at work.

By providing a Leaders' Guide- this contains  a description of each of the videos, as well as copies of each of the printable resources. This allows you to zero in on the particular need you wish to meet. Some of the topics include:

º The stress response

º Taking charge of our well-being

º Ideas for resolving conflict at work

º Talking to co-workers

º Roles and responsibilities in the return-to-work process

º Potentially harmful coping strategies

º Claiming group disability benefits

CIRPD- Workplace Mental Health Webinars

The Canadian Institute for the Relief of Pain and Disability- These free educational webinars provide an opportunity for professionals to share the latest research and tools to help people with chronic pain or disability to stay at work and to return to work. The free webinars are offered as live, online events and then posted as recordings. The series is partially funded by the Province of BC through the Community Gaming Grants.

If you are interested in receiving updates on CIRPD Webinar programs please sign up for CIRPD Webinar Alerts.

BeyondBlue mental health resources and videos

This is an Australian website with extensive resources for managers and individuals.  It provides  information and support to help people to achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live.   

The website includes short video turorials including how to talk to someone at work about mental health concerns.