The following section describes the work of system partners, such as the HSAs and the WSIB, in the mitigation/prevention of psychological injuries and the elimination/mitigation of psychological hazards in the workplace.

In alignment with Prevention Works areas of systems focus, the WSIB and the HSAs have introduced initiatives focused on addressing work-related mental health and workplace violence and harassment. These initiatives have involved:

  • building strategic partnerships across different systems that impact work-related mental health and workplace violence and harassment
  • contributing to the evidence base
  • delivering training, consulting and clinical services for workers and employers on work-related mental health and workplace violence and harassment

Data and research

Mental Harm Prevention Roadmap (HSA Delivered)

The Mental Harm Prevention Roadmap is part of a three-year research project led by Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS), called the Action Research Project. The project began in 2020 in partnership with the Conference Board of Canada and Howatt HR. The purpose of the roadmap is to enhance the Workplace Mental Health portfolio at WSPS with evidence-based approaches. The roadmap is expected to promote mental health and encourage employers to prevent mental harm at work. The roadmap will also be used as a flexible framework to guide employers in putting programs and policies in place to support employees.

WSPS recruited nine firms of various sizes, representing diverse sectors, to contribute to the initiative. Year two research ran from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022. One of the goals for year-two was to build evidence and better understand which WSPS programs are most effective  and assess how to improve employee experience. A report on the WSPS Mental Harm Prevention Roadmap Year-Two Study report was released in June 2022 and will provide a summary of the results from the collected research of this project.

Mental health and psychosocial supports for international agricultural workers in Ontario (Report by HSA)

Occupational Health Clinics For Ontario Workers (OHCOW) released a report on April 25, 2022 titled “Mental Health and Psychosocial Supports for International Agricultural Workers (IAWs) in Ontario (PDF).” The goal of the report was to create an inventory of available mental health and psychosocial well-being supports and services available to Latinx and Caribbean workers in Ontario, and to distribute these findings to these workers. OHCOW released posters across the nine agricultural regions in Ontario to assist Latinx and Caribbean workers in finding mental health and psychosocial well-being supports available in Ontario. The research team also created a comprehensive project report, along with a webinar in April 2022, to share the results of the project. Further Information, resources and webinars will be rolled out during the 2022–2023 season, with ongoing evaluation.

Knowledge mobilization and supporting workplaces

Mental health and psychological health and safety (HSA Delivered)

In 2021–2022, the ministry funded a three-year mental health program with Workplace Safety North (WSN). This program aims to address the needs of clients by providing consulting services and guidance around how to address work-related mental health, especially during COVID-19. WSN is focusing on key themes to develop 45 new interventions in the form of information, resources, training and consulting solutions. Topics include:

  • youth and mental health
  • dealing with stress
  • resiliency
  • the impact of COVID-19 on mental health

Between 2021–2022, WSN engaged in 27 consultations and delivered 11 training sessions to more than 1,000 participants. The impact of these interventions include:

  • 87% of participants indicated they changed their practice or behaviours
  • 85% of participants indicated that their prevention knowledge around mental health increased
  • 78% of participants indicated their skill and ability in controlling mental health hazards in the workplace increased

The targeted three-year program is scheduled to conclude in August 2024.

Increasing mental health and workplace violence awareness in construction, transportation and electrical utilities (HSA Delivered)

In 2021, the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association hired a mental health specialist to help develop solutions that would meet the specific needs of construction, transportation and electrical utilities. IHSA and their mental health specialist worked with ministry stakeholders to:

  • host 10 sessions to begin conversations in the workplace on mental health with the purpose of reducing stigma
  • increase conversations between employers and workers in eight awareness sessions on the Opioid Crisis

These sessions are now available as free webinars:

IHSA also developed new resources, including 10 new Mental Health Safety Talks. Topics included:

  • opioids in the trades
  • toxic masculinity
  • work stress and burnout
  • challenging stigma
  • preventing mental harm

Multiple social media posts were promoted in 2021–2022 to create awareness of mental health solutions. An eLearning course was also made available to address Workplace Violence and Harassment: What Employers Should Know.

Introducing new toolkits for workplace violence prevention in health care (HSA Developed and Delivered)

To meet sector needs and further strengthen Ontario’s health care workforce, the Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA) unveiled three additional workplace violence prevention toolkits in 2021–2022:

These are specifically designed for use in health care environments and with health care workers in mind.

A major/measurable reduction in violent workplace incidents within the health care sector will take time to recognize. The prior Violence, Aggression and Responsive Behaviours (VARB) project has already resulted in significant outcomes, including:

Additionally, the VARB may be useful in sectors besides health care. PSHSA will review how this same approach and framework may be adapted to prevent workplace violence within other settings across Ontario.

Health and Safety Excellence program — Preventing workplace violence and work-related mental injury and illness

The Workplace Safety & Insurance Board’s HSEp program supports employers in addressing workplace hazards, including psychological hazards and controlling exposure to workplace violence and harassment.footnote 1 HSEp can help businesses address a range of issues, including:

  • workplace Health Promotion
  • corporate Social Responsibility
  • control of Hazards, with a focus on psychological injury hazards

Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) Annual Symposium

Between April and May 2021, OHCOW launched its fifth Annual Symposium called Mayday, Mayday. The five-week webinar series included speakers from across Ontario and beyond to highlight and share solutions for workplace mental health, stress and injury prevention, with considerations for what the new and restored ‘normal’ may be. There were over 1,300 registrants, participants and recorded webinar views.

Workplace Violence and Harassment: Situational Awareness and De-escalation workshop — Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS)

Restaurants Canada, an industry association, reached out to WSPS for a new solution to address the increase of violence and harassment concerns in the service sector. Research was conducted to confirm and further analyze this need through focused conversations with:

  • associated Advisory Committee groups
  • industry associations
  • WSPS field staff
  • Google analytics

With the urgent need to address this challenge, WSPS developed and launched the Workplace Violence and Harassment: Situational Awareness and De-escalation workshop to:

  • provide participants with an overview of legislated requirements, situational awareness and de-escalation principles
  • help participants acquire the skills necessary to deal with workplace violence issues

Two sessions were held in February and March 2022. Preliminary survey data from learners includes an Overall Customer Satisfaction rate of 4.26 / 5 (85.2%), and a Training Application in the Workplace rate of 4.43 / 5 (88.6%).

Amending training programs to include psychosocial hazards and workplace mental health (WHSC)

The Workers Health and Safety Centre provided training resources aimed at addressing psychosocial hazards and workplace mental health in 2021–2022. WHSC delivered 6,558 hours of training to help workplaces prevent hazards that give rise to mental injuries in workers as well as prevent workplace violence and harassment.

Footnotes

  • footnote[1] Back to paragraph Please note that the HSEp focus on psychological health is directly related to the WSIB’s mandate to provide compensation for mental stress and traumatic mental stress as well as presumptive compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder for specific types of workers.