• Safety Basics

  April 5, 2023

Psychological Support Toolkit for Workers and Employers: COVID-19

Psychological health & wellness is increasingly being recognized as a key priority in the workplace. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only exacerbated concerns around employees’ physical wellbeing, it has also significantly impacted their psychological wellbeing.

3 min read

INITIATIVE OVERVIEW

Psychological health & wellness is increasingly being recognized as a key priority in the workplace. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only exacerbated concerns around employees’ physical wellbeing, it has also significantly impacted their psychological wellbeing. Personal health and finance concerns, job security concerns, and reduced social interaction are creating anxieties in the workforce like never before. A lack of understanding of the issues at hand, and the resources available, often makes it difficult for employers to address these concerns before they cause lasting damage.

go2HR is pleased to support a new Psychological Support Toolkit For Workers and Employers: COVID-19, delivered in partnership between the BC Municipal Safety Association (BCMSA) in partnership with workplace mental health expert Diana Vissers, Work to Wellness.

PROGRAM FRAMEWORK

This FREE multimedia initiative provides education, tools and resources to support the detection and efficient resolution of emerging and anticipated problems. The Psychological Support Toolkit For Workers and Employers: COVID-19 includes a 5 Part – Virtual Summit bringing together industry experts and creating an intimate dialogue on their recommendations in light of COVID-19. In addition, this comprehensive resource will provide information packs, checklists, access to free quality resources recordings of the 5 part – virtual summit and access to an online discussion forum where participants can network, exchange ideas and ask questions with both peers and industry experts.

5 Part – Virtual Summit: Each 60 – 90 minute video is individually valuable however participation in the full series is recommended to build skills in the needed areas. Participants will learn how to address the presented problems, apply simple tools, and access additional resources and education. Workers and employers will develop skills to better manage the stressors of COVID-19.

5 PART VIRTUAL SUMMIT

PART 1: Identifying Psychological Impacts and Needs Due to COVID-19

Diana Vissers hosts this introductory session where she examines the workplace impacts of COVID-19 and introduces tools to detect and recognize mental health concerns. Participants can apply the mental health continuum to COVID-19 scenarios and learn about self-assessment and screening tools. This session introduces the topics for the remaining sessions.

View Recording

PART 2: Skills for Communicating Effectively with People Experiencing Psychological Distress

Phil Eastwood is an expert in diffusing distressed people and will co-facilitate this session. Diana Vissers and Phil will discuss common work scenarios and Phil will offer tips, suggestions, and tools to effectively respond.

  • When: September 17, 2020
  • Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am

View Recording

PART 3: Exploring Substance Use and Impacts During COVID-19

Recent research shows that we are using up to 40% more alcohol, opioid deaths are the highest ever in BC, and people are reporting more concerns about their substance use. Mike Mathers, an addictions counsellor, co-hosts this session and shows you why understanding substance use on a continuum, rather than as an all-or-nothing approach can help prevent those serious workplace impacts and remove obstacles to getting early support. He shares his insights, some neuroscience tidbits, his unique perspective, and some practical tips and tools.

View Recording

PART 4: Support for Managers and Leaders: How to Respond to Your Team’s Psychological Needs During COVID-19

Psychologist and Director of Mental Health Solutions at Sun Life Financial, Carmen Bellows co-hosts this session where participants learn the key elements to managing others who are experiencing mental health impacts. Learners can recognize distress and the parameters of your workplace role. Specific examples are reviewed and various tools are shared.

View Recording

PART 5: Industry Leaders Panel

In this session, Diana Vissers hosts a panel of industry leaders who provide their lens on COVID-19 and the effects on mental health and wellness in the workplace. The panel includes representatives from the municipal, construction, forestry, trucking, hospitality, arts and entertainment and agriculture sectors.

View Recording

SAMPLE TOOLKIT RESOURCES

Use the following resources in conjunction with the 5 – Part Expert Webinar Series, to better equip you or your co-workers to mitigate the psychological impacts of COVID-19.