The University of Ottawa’s Strategic Plan Transformation 2030 underlines the importance of creating a sustainable campus culture that promotes overall wellbeing, embraces diversity and fuels employee engagement.
In line with this priority, Human Resources is leading the Excellence Canada's Mental Health at Work initiative. Excellence Canada provides a framework that aligns with the requirements of the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. In doing so, it identifies concrete actions needed to achieve a culture of mental health and wellness.
We encourage everyone to view these videos starting with the one that is most impactful within your work environment. With each video are questions to think and take action.
ⓘ The following videos and content were adapted with permission of Ottawa Public Health and for educational and non-commercial purposes only.
Being a Mindful Employee : An Orientation to Psychological health and safety in the workplace
The Mental Health Commission of Canada developed this free online training program about psychological health and safety in the workplace. Learn about the 13 psychosocial workplace factors from the National Standard of Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace and what you can do to help yourself and others in the workplace. The average time for completion is 75 minutes.
Test your knowledge with a final quiz! Upon completion, you will receive a certificate.
Think and Take Action:
1. Think of a time at work when you did not feel that your beliefs or values were respected. How did that make you feel?
2. What does a positive work environment look like to you?
3. What are some strategies to help YOUR workplace to promote a healthy Organizational Culture?
4. Write down different ways that YOU can contribute to a positive Organizational Culture.
"Organizational Culture" video transcript (PDF, 131 Kb)
Think and Take Action:
1. Think of a time at work when you did not feel psychologically supported. How did that make you feel?
2. What does a Psychologically and Socially Supportive work environment look like to you?
3. What are some strategies to help YOUR workplace to be more Psychologically and Socially Supportive?
4. Write down different ways that YOU can promote Psychological and Social Support in your workplace.
"Psychological and social support" video transcript (PDF, 112 Kb)
Think and Take Action:
1. Think of a time at work when you were given unclear direction. What did you do to get more information?
2. What does Clear Leadership and Expectations mean to you?
3. What are some strategies to help YOUR workplace promote Clear Leadership and Expectations?
4. Write down different ways that YOU can be clearer with your expectations.
"Clear Leadership and Expectations" video transcript (PDF, 121 Kb)
Think and Take Action:
1. Think of a time when you did not feel respected. How did you react?
2. What are some signs of disrespect? Are these the same for everyone?
3. What are some strategies to help YOUR workplace promote Civility and Respect?
4. Write down different ways that YOU can help promote Civility and Respect.
"Civility and Respect" video transcript (PDF, 115 kb)
Think and Take Action:
1. Think of a time at work when you felt that your job demands did not match your emotional and interpersonal competencies. What did you do to maintain your mental health, while ensuring you accomplished necessary tasks?
2. What do the psychological demands of your job mean to you? Is this different for you than it is for your colleague(s)?
3. What are some strategies to help YOUR workplace respond to Psychological Demands?
4. Write down different ways that YOU can help manage Psychological Demands in your workplace
"Psychological demands" video transcript (PDF, 112 Kb)
Think and Take Action:
1. Think of some skills that you would like to grow or develop. How would those skills help you either in your current role or to grow into a new role?
2. What are some ways in which people can contribute to their own growth and development?
3. What are some strategies to help YOUR workplace foster Growth and Development?
4. Write down different ways that YOU can encourage Growth and Development in your workplace.
"Growth and Development" video transcript (PDF, 115 Kb)
Think and Take Action:
1. Think of a time when you were recognized or appreciated. How did this make you feel?
2. What are some different ways that people can be rewarded or recognized in a workplace?
3. What are some strategies to help YOUR workplace with Recognition and Reward?
4. What are some different ways that YOU can recognize and reward your colleagues, supervisors, or staff?
"Recognition and Reward" video transcript (PDF, 127 Kb)
Think and Take Action:
1. Think of a time when you were directly involved in a decision making process. What about a situation where you were not involved? How were these two situations different from each other?
2. What are some other ways that employees can be involved in decision making in a workplace?
3. What are some strategies to help YOUR workplace with worker Involvement and Influence?
4. Write down different ways that YOU can become involved in the decision making process and influence the outcome.
"Involvement and Influence" video transcript (PDF, 124 Kb)
Think and Take Action:
1. Think of a time when you had a heavy workload to manage. Did it you find it stressful or motivating? How did you manage this?
2. What are some of the effects that an unbalanced workload can have on someone’s work?
3. What are some strategies to help YOUR workplace with Workload Management?
4. Write down different ways that YOU can manage your workload.
Use this four-step guide to help lead a collaborative conversation about workload challenges for both managers and employees.
"Workload Management" video transcript (PDF, 118 Kb)
Think and Take Action:
1. Think of a time when you were especially engaged and about a time when you were not. What made these situations different?
2. Why is employee engagement so important in the workplace?
3. What are some strategies to help YOUR workplace boost overall employee Engagement?
4. Write down different ways that YOU can boost your Engagement at work.
"Engagement" video transcript (PDF, 122 kb)
Think and Take Action:
1. Think of a time when you had difficulty maintaining work life Balance. What strategies did you use, or could have used to manage during this time?
2. Why is work life Balance so important?
3. What are some strategies to help YOUR workplace boost overall employee Balance?
4. Write down different ways that YOU can manage your work life Balance.
"Balance" video transcript (PDF, 127 Kb)
Think and Take Action:
1. Think of a time when you did not feel psychologically protected. How could you, or did you, address this feeling in a way that respected both you and the other party?
2. What does a psychologically safe workplace look like? How can workplaces help support a psychologically safe workplace culture?
3. What are some strategies to help YOUR workplace ensure overall Psychological Protection?
4. Write down different ways that YOU can ensure your own Psychological Protection at work.
"Psychological Protection" video transcript (PDF, 120 Kb)
Think and Take Action:
1. Think of a time when you did not feel physically safe. How did you address this safety issue while respecting everyone involved?
2. What does a physically safe workplace look like? What are some ways that employees can ensure their physical well being at work? How can workplaces make sure that their employees feel safe from physical harm at work?
3. What are some strategies to help YOUR workplace ensure overall physical safety in the workplace?
4. Write down different ways that YOU can ensure your own physical safety in the workplace.
"Protection of Physical Safety" video transcript (PDF, 122 Kb)
