The Evolution of Workplace Mental Health in Canada Toward a standard for psychological health and safety BY MARY ANN BAYNTON AND LEANNE FOURNIER The Evolution of Workplace Mental Health in Canada The Evolution of Workplace Mental Health in Canada Toward a standard for psychological health and safety BY MARY ANN BAYNTON AND LEANNE FOURNIER A fee digital version is available at www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com ISBN 978-1-55383-458-8 With the permission of the Canadian Standards Association, (operating as CSA Group), material is reproduced from CSA Group English and French versions of this publication are available standard, CAN/CSA-Z1003-13/BNQ 9700-803/2013 at www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com and Psychological www.strategiesdesantementale.com health and safety in the workplace—Prevention, promotion, and guidance to staged implementation, which is copyrighted by CSA Group, 178 Cover and interior design: Relish New Brand Experience Rexdale Blvd., Toronto, ON, M9W 1R3. Tis material is not the Editing and proofreading: Christine Gordon Manley (Manley Mann complete and ofcial position of CSA Group on the referenced subject, Media), Sherry Kaniuga, Kate Heartfeld, Cassandra Filice which is represented solely by the standard in its entirety. While use of the material has been authorized, CSA Group is not responsible for Produced by Friesens the manner in which the data is presented, nor for any interpretations Legal and copyright information thereof. No further reproduction is permited. For more information or to purchase standards from CSA Group, please visit htp://shop.csa.ca/ Te Evolution of Workplace Mental Health in Canada—Toward or call 1-800-463-6727. a standard for psychological health and safety is published by Te Great-West Life Assurance Company in support of the Citation: Baynton, M., Fournier, L., (2017). Te evolution of workplace Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace. mental health in Canada—Toward a standard for psychological health Tis publication is intended to provide general information and safety. Te Great-West Life Assurance Company: Friesens. about the actions and events that, in the opinion of the authors, ©Te Great-West Life Assurance Company (2017), all rights reserved. has and will continue to advance mental health and psychological Any modifcation or reproduction of this document without the health and safety in Canadian workplaces. It is based on information express writen consent of Te Great-West Life Assurance Company available as of the date of publication or as otherwise noted. It is is strictly prohibited. not the purpose of this publication to provide all of the information that is otherwise available on this subject. Tis publication does Te Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace and not provide legal, accounting, or other professional advice. No design are trademarks of Te Great-West Life Assurance Company. representations or warranties are made (express or implied) with Tis commemorative book has been made possible, in part, through a respect to the information in this document, and we are not liable for fnancial contribution from the Mental Health Commission of Canada any loss arising directly or indirectly from the use of, or any action with the fnancial support of Health Canada. Te views and fndings taken in reliance on, any information appearing in this publication herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily refect those of or in any publication by a third party that is referenced or linked to the Mental Health Commission of Canada or Health Canada. in this publication. Printed in Canada. This book is dedicated to all those who experienced psychological harm in the workplace because we didn’t know any better and all those who never will because now we do. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS he existence of this book is due in no Maureen Shaw helped us get the details right. We are T small part to those who have worked especially grateful for the thoughtful advance review tirelessly and passionately to advance this of the manuscript by Ian Arnold and Mike Schwartz. Joti Samra, Sapna Mahajan, and Nitika Rewari also cause. It is their story, and we have many generously shared rich information. to acknowledge. From Great-West Life, Dave Johnston, Mike First, we ofer a special thanks to our families and Schwartz, and Jan Belanger made so much of this story friends who still love us even though we may have neglected possible and we would not be writing this book if it had them while we focused our atention on this project. We not been for them. Diane Bezdikian, executive director thank you frst because we need you most. for the Centre, provided invaluable emotional and We can say very sincerely that everyone from professional support throughout this entire project. the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Te Centre’s program manager, Joanne Roadley, as always, Workplace (the Centre), the Workforce Advisory was lef to manage both the project and us. What a job Commitee of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, that was! Tis extraordinary woman always has our and the Technical Commitee for the National Standard backs. Once again, we thank you. of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the We are very aware that, despite our best eforts, Workplace have made signifcant contributions to the only a fraction of the stories of those who contributed story and to our ability to write this book. Seriously. to the evolution of workplace mental health in Canada Every single one of you. are included in this book. For those not specifcally Some acted as historians for this book—Ian and mentioned, you know who you are and you know what Suzanne Arnold, Martin Shain, Bill Wilkerson, Michael you did. To you, we also express our sincere thanks. Kirby, Michael Wilson, Elizabeth Rankin-Horvath, and – Mary Ann Baynton and Leanne Fournier CONTENTS Forewords Gaining Momentum 92 Te Honourable Michael Kirby 9 Developing the Standard 102 Te Honourable Michael Wilson 11 Advancing the Issue 120 Preface A World First: Launching the Standard 128 Mary Ann Baynton 15 Te Changing Landscape 134 Introduction 20 What the Research Tells Us 150 Connecting the Dots: Mental Illness Vision for the Future 162 and Work 28 Addendums 168 Bringing Mental Illness out of the Shadows 42 References 172 Emerging Leadership 52 Index of Names, Organizations, and Reports 177 Identifying Issues and Developing Solutions 58 Authors 182 Coming to Consensus 76 FOREWORD The Honourable Michael Kirby ack in 2005, when I was a senator, I travelled across the health and well-being, in 2006, we were Bcountry and talked to every provincial minister of health seeing a $10–$15 billion a year expense to to tell them about the forthcoming Senate report, Out of the the Canadian economy in the form of lost productivity and absenteeism. Tis is why Shadows at Last—Transforming Mental Health, Mental Illness, workplace mental health was one of the and Addiction Services in Canada. very frst strategic priorities of the Mental Tis was to pre-sell the report to and business in terms of the importance Health Commission of Canada. the ministers who would be responsible of mental health. I’m especially proud of the for acting on it. I started each meeting the Te impetus for Out of the Shadows Commission’s Workforce Advisory same way—asking the ministers to tell was the enormous economic impact Commitee. Much was accomplished me their top three priorities in healthcare. of child and youth mental health and under the leadership of Bill Wilkerson, In those early days, not a single one said workplace mental health. Tree-quarters Dr. Ian Arnold, and Charles Bruce, along mental health. It wasn’t even fourth; of adults reported the onset of mental with a host of dedicated volunteers who actually, it was way down the list. illness as a child. But a lack of treatment served as advisory commitee members. In 2014, I made that same trip, as children meant that these individuals Te launch of the National Standard talking to ministers and deputy ministers were more likely to encounter difculties of Canada for Psychological Health and throughout Canada. Tings had changed. as they grew older that could cost the Safety in the Workplace (the Standard) in Tere wasn’t a single one who didn’t put government a lot of money through social 2013 is a shining example of what can be mental health in their top three priorities. assistance and even jail costs. Tere was accomplished when people come together Somehow, what has followed since Out also no question that workplace mental for a common and important cause. Te of the Shadows (released in 2006) has health was an issue that needed to be Standard is viewed internationally as being triggered a sea change inside government addressed. Aside from the cost to human valuable. Based on my personal knowledge FOREWORD | 9 The launch of the National of how things operate in Canada, I know Standard of Canada for visionary leaders in business and industry Psychological Health and Safety will adopt the Standard; others who don’t in the Workplace in 2013 is a want to be accused of being laggards will shining example of what can be then follow. Tis standard provides an accomplished when people come excellent map to help guide them. together for a common and Tanks to the eforts of all those important cause. who helped to develop the Standard, CEOs are now hearing from their chief medical ofcers, human resources professionals, Te Honourable Michael Kirby, O.C., PhD government leaders and others that this Founding chair, Partners for Mental Health is both a business imperative and a social Past member, Senate of Canada issue that needs to be addressed.