Workplace Education and Consulting

This 60 minute interactive workshop* introduces participants to signs and indicators in the workplace where there may be a mental health and/or addiction issue. Customized to the audience, discussions focus on the role and responsibility that peers, leadership, and organizations play in fostering a culture that promotes psychological health and safety, destigmatizes mental illness and promotes early intervention and mental wellbeing. Learning themes include:

• Business imperatives related to mental health in the workplace
• Prevalence of mental illness and addiction in the workplace
• Signs and indicators of mental health issues most common in the workplace
• Proactive measures for building positive mental wellbeing in the workplace
• Strategies for approaching peers who may be struggling with mental health related issues

Learning outcomes:

• Identify the statistical prevalence of mental illness and addiction in society
• Recognize some of the signs and indicators of mental health issues most common in the workplace
• Recall the key steps for approaching an individual who may be suffering from a mental health or addiction issue
• Describe the role that stigma plays in preventing people from seeking help
• Identify strategies for decreasing stigma in the workplace

*Also offered in an additional eLearning format as an alternative or to sustain learning following the delivery of a workshop.

Supporting employees who are experiencing mental illness or an addiction can be very challenging for leaders; many feel they are not equipped to respond effectively and appropriately. This half-day workshop will help leaders build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to better support employees who are experiencing mental illness and/or addiction. A supplementary guide is available to all workshop participants. Experiential learning activities and case studies support the following learning objectives:

• Practice how to approach an individual with possible mental health and/or addiction issues using best practices
• Explore how to manage team dynamics while supporting an individual with mental illness or addiction
• Discuss how to successfully re-integrate an individual returning to work after a mental health-related leave
• Identify strategies for building mentally healthy, resilient teams
• Develop an action plan to implement upon returning to the team

Learning outcomes:

• Describe an employer’s duty to inquire and provide accommodation to an individual suffering from a mental health or addiction issue
• Recognize some of the signs and indicators of mental health issues most common in the workplace
• Apply given framework for approaching an individual who may be suffering from a mental health or addiction issue
• Understand the role and responsibilities of a team leader when an employee is on leave and how to manage the return-to-work process
• Identify strategies for creating psychologically safe teams in the workplace

Prerequisite: Essentials of Workplace Mental Health in-person workshop or e-learning module.

Given we spend more time working with our colleagues than we do our family and loved ones, teammates may very well be the first to recognize signs of psychological distress in employees. This 60 minute workshop will help raise mental health awareness and provide employees with the knowledge and skills to best support peers in efforts to reduce stigma and build a workplace that encourages team respect and concern for others. A supplementary guide is available to all workshop participants. Using experiential learning activities and case studies, learners will have the opportunity to:

• Practice how to approach a colleague with possible mental health or addiction issues using best practices
• Discuss how to best support an individual returning to work after a mental health-related leave
• Explore strategies for building personal resilience

Learning outcomes:

• Recall the prevalence of mental illness and addiction in the workplace
• Recognize some of the signs and indicators of mental health issues most common in the workplace
• Apply given framework for approaching a colleague who may be suffering from a mental health or addiction issue
• Identify proactive measures and strategies for building positive mental wellbeing

Prerequisite: Essentials of Workplace Mental Health in-person workshop or e-learning module.

Resilience protects our mental wellbeing while strengthening our ability to adapt to demands in the workplace. This 2 hour workshop* accommodates a class size of up to 50 participants and focuses on the implementation of practical tools to increase one’s personal resilience. A supplementary Journal Participant Guidebook is provided at time of workshop (or as a downloadable guide in the eLearning). Learning themes include:

• Practice resilience skills that foster self-awareness, agility,  and problem-solving
• Explore the role of connecting with your core purpose to increase resilience
• Identify tools, tips and practices for building resilience at work
• Create a “Personal Action Plan” for resilience planning and action

*Also offered in an additional eLearning format as an alternative or to sustain learning following the delivery of a workshop.

Providing accessible and excellent customer service is a core value for all public and private services.

Meeting this core value can also be challenging for many organizations. Sometimes customers do not request services in typical ways, and on occasion may display anger, aggression, or a heightened emotional state. There can also be communication challenges preventing front-line staff from understanding customer requests.

Combining CAMH’s expertise in public education and clinical training, we have developed a customer service training program to help front-line staff address and de-escalate challenging situations through understanding, empathy, and a respectful response.

This program can be customized to the unique setting and needs of your organization, aligning with your mission, vision, core values, and the people that you serve. Our training approach includes a thorough needs assessment to identify and measure areas for development, along with a robust evaluation process. By understanding the specific needs of your organization, our education experts can develop learning tools and simulation training that will be highly relevant to meeting your goals.

Originally developed and piloted for the City of Toronto, this program has been acclaimed in both evaluation and anecdotal feedback.  In particular, attendees appreciate the use of real-world scenarios and relevant, simulation-based learning.

The full program complement of available services includes:

1. Evaluation of current employee perceptions, confidence level, and working context
2. Awareness of mental health and addiction issues
3. Reducing  stigma and discrimination
4. Utilizing  a trauma-informed approach to build empathy
5. Communication strategies
6. De-escalation skills
7. Evaluation plan and report
8. Leadership support activities
9. Consultation on activities for sustainability

Informed by best practices in education, CAMH trainers develop learning objectives that focus on simulation, and use an interactive method to foster audience engagement and adoption of the curriculum. Training also includes an evaluation process that allows senior leadership to assess their return on investment, as well as develop strategies for future team development.

Participants in the CAMH customer service training program will leave the sessions with enhanced confidence, peer support, and an enhanced comfort level to effectively cope with the most challenging client interactions in the workplace. Participants can also anticipate improved customer relations, as well as an improved quality of workplace life.