About the Centre
As an employer, you likely recognize that a healthier workplace can improve your bottom line, but you may lack the time or the knowledge to make it happen effectively. Money spent on ineffective initiatives can be a drain on both resources and morale. The Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace offers valuable support - reviewing current research findings, discussing innovative programming and offering workplace mental health tools and strategies. We're dedicated to helping turn knowledge of mental health issues into cost-effective action plans for employers in Canada.
Whether you're working towards a mentally healthier workplace or with an employee who's experiencing a mental health issue, we know employers want straightforward and practical approaches. We sponsor research to help close gaps in knowledge and work to turn research findings into tools and strategies that work. We also provide resources and information that may help employers make changes that can improve both employee well-being and the bottom line.
Supporting the Search for Solutions
The Centre's objectives are to:
- Increase knowledge and awareness. The Centre supports the dissemination and exchange of research and other relevant information for employers across Canada.
- Help employers turn knowledge into action. The Centre works to turn current research into evidence-based strategies and tools that employers can implement in their own workplaces. We will work together with third parties who have specialized expertise to be a focal point for sharing programs, resources and services aimed at helping employers prevent and reduce the impact of mental health issues in the workplace.
A Public Resource for Employers
Our work is publicly available to all employers across Canada, regardless of size or industry. Whether we've sponsored development of a resource, collaborated with another organization, or are providing information from a third party expert, we work to make resources widely accessible through our website and other means such as forums and events that bring interested parties together to share information.
Building on expertise and commitment
The Centre helps focus the skills and resources from mental health and other professionals and organizations across Canada to find solutions for this important issue. These include:
- individuals and organizations in the fields of research, treatment, business and government, with specialized expertise or capabilities to speed and enhance development of programs and services for employers.
- Great-West Life's expertise as one of the leading providers of employee benefits in Canada.
- the Centre's Advisory Council, chaired by Bill Wilkerson, Co-Founder, Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health. The council includes experts in science, medicine and business.
This public website is made possible due to the generous support of The Great-West Life Assurance Company. The content on this site is adapted from many sources as credited, and developed by the author, Mary Ann Baynton, MSW, RSW, with approval by Mike Schwartz, the Executive Director of the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace
Executive Director:
Mike Schwartz, Senior Vice-President, Group Benefits, Great-West Life
Mike has extensive experience in the Group insurance industry and is also responsible for
Great-West's group life, health and disability claims and contact centre operations.
Program Director:
Mary Ann Baynton, of Mary Ann Baynton & Associates Consulting, is also a Consultant for Mental Health Works, an award-winning initiative of the Canadian Association of Mental Health (Ontario Division) that provides training and consulting to employers. Mary Ann's expertise is in the management of employees with mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. Her work includes individual return-to-work consulting, broad-based training and awareness initiatives, as well as assessment and implementation of workplace strategies to improve mental health, morale and motivation.
We welcome your input on services, information and tools that you feel may help organizations create or sustain a mentally healthier workplace. Contact us.
Many people with mental health issues do not seek treatment because they fail to recognize the signs and symptoms or are too embarrassed to reach out for help. see all
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