(Toronto, October 10, 2023) – The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario’s Your Health Space program is championing psychological health and safety in health care settings this week as part of Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month.
Funded by the Ministry of Health, Your Health Space is a workplace mental health training program for Ontario’s health care organizations. It provides psychoeducational training that supports organizations in addressing the burnout and moral injury affecting their teams. Since launching last year, the program has had a profound impact on Ontario’s health care workforce, collaborating with hospitals, long-term care, mental health and addictions, home and community care, and primary care settings to improve employee mental health in their organizations.
Through live workshops, microlearning huddles, and self-directed modules, Your Health Space has trained nearly 26,000 participants in health care settings across Ontario. More than 350 organizations have participated in the program. Your Health Space’s team of trainers are located across Ontario and are available to support health care organizations in every region. Evaluation surveys indicate that on average, participants believe applying what they learned during Your Health Space sessions will enhance their well-being and increase their ability to support others at work.
“Our government knows providing more convenient access to mental health services is key to building a health care system that better serves Ontarians,” said Sylvia Jones, Ontario’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Through this partnership with CMHA Ontario, our government is ensuring Ontario’s world-class health care workers can connect to the support they need, when they need it.”
“Your Health Space is an important first step that encourages health care organizations to begin having important conversations about fostering workplace mental health and promoting psychological health and safety,” said Camille Quenneville, CEO, CMHA Ontario. “It also works with an organization’s leaders, frontline workers, and support staff to help them recognize symptoms of chronic workplace stress in themselves and their colleagues.”
“The sessions not only helped us understand the importance of mental and physical well-being, but also provided us with actionable steps to improve our overall health and happiness,” said Robert Alldred-Hughes, President and CEO, Glengarry Memorial Hospital. “I am confident that the knowledge and skills gained during these sessions will be beneficial to us in our personal and professional lives.”
Launched in 2001, Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month encourages employers to promote healthy workplace practices throughout the year and celebrate success every October. The second week of the month focuses on promoting mental health and well-being in the workplace.
For more information about Your Health Space, or to register your organization, visit: yourhealthspace.ca/programs.
