Mental Health
& Safety for the Workplace

The Working Mind is a workplace mental health training course designed to change how people think, feel, and act about mental health - building shared language, better conversations, and resilient teams.

PLAN YOUR TRAINING
Mental Health and Safety Training

WHY MENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY MATTERS

DUTY TO PROTECT & ACCOMMODATE

Employers must provide a safe, healthy workplace and accommodate disability - including mental health. Building capability to recognize and address workplace risks supports compliance and better outcomes.

  • Safe work obligations & reasonable precautions
  • Accommodation pathways and documentation
  • Early recognition, support, and referrals
  • Integrate with policies, EAP, and benefits

CANADA'S NATIONAL STANDARD

Align training to the National Standard for Mental Health & Safety (CAN/CSA-Z1003 / BNQ 9700-803) to reduce harm, promote well-being, and demonstrate due diligence.

  • Common language & practical practices
  • Identify and address workplace risk factors
  • Role-based scripts, checklists, and toolkits
  • Reinforcement and sustainment planning

What can The Working Mind provide for individuals, teams and your organization?

Mental Health Awareness and Understanding

Recognize signs of good, declining, and poor mental health in others, and yourself.

Break Down Stigma

Cultivate a safe, supportive environment where mental health can be discussed openly and without judgment, using respectful and non-stigmatizing language.

Strengthen Communication Skills

Develop a shared language to foster open dialogue about mental health between colleagues and within teams.

Improve Resilience

Improve individual resilience through practicing coping strategies in times of stress and equipping managers to support their teams with the same tools and strategies.



COURSE OPTIONS

The Working Mind™ - Employees

A practical course that helps employees recognize changes in mental health, reduce stigma, and use a shared language to support one another at work.

  • Recognize signs of good, declining, and poor mental health (self & others)
  • Use the Mental Health Continuum Tool to notice changes
  • Strengthen communication with respectful, non‑stigmatizing language
  • Practice "Big 4" coping strategies for resilience
  • Know when and how to start a supportive conversation

Delivered by a certified facilitator. Program content aligns to The Working Mind™ model.

The Working Mind™ - Leaders & Managers

A leader-focused version that equips managers to notice changes, have work‑appropriate conversations, and support teams using clear, role‑aligned actions.

  • Understand responsibilities, boundaries, and when to refer
  • Use the Mental Health Continuum actions for each zone
  • Have supportive, compliant conversations with confidence
  • Address stressors and strengthen resilience across the team
  • Plan next steps with clear manager action checklists

Customizable to your policies, EAP, benefits, and reporting pathways.


CHALLENGES WE SOLVE

STIGMA & SILENCE

Employees hesitate to speak up. We build literacy and normalize conversations so people seek support sooner.

MANAGER UNCERTAINTY

Leaders worry about "saying the wrong thing." We provide step-by-step guidance for safe, compliant conversations.

workplace RISK FACTORS

Workload, role clarity, civility, and change fatigue. We help you identify risks and embed prevention practices.

INCONSISTENT RESPONSES

Different leaders handle issues differently. We standardize approach, pathways, and documentation.

LACK OF AWARENESS OF RIGHTS & DUTIES

We clarify employer obligations and employee rights, and connect training to your policies and programs.

NO SUSTAINMENT PLAN

Awareness fades. We implement refreshers, leader toolkits, and reinforcement to keep skills active.


FORMATS & DELIVERY

VIRTUAL (LIVE)

  • Employees: 1 half-day
  • Managers: 1 - 2 half-days
  • Cohort size: 10 - 24 participants
  • Interactive exercises & breakouts
  • Optional refreshers and micro-learning

IN-PERSON (ONSITE)

  • Employees: 1 half-day
  • Managers: 1 full day
  • Tailored scenarios & role-plays
  • Materials: workbooks & toolkits
  • Follow-up coaching available

WHO IT'S FOR

  • Employees & people leaders
  • HR/People & Culture, H&S, PMO
  • Union & JHSC representatives
  • Executive sponsors & champions

CUSTOMIZATION & COMPLIANCE

  • Alignment to your policies, EAP, benefits
  • Pathways for accommodation & escalation
  • Link to National Standard practices
  • Manager scripts, checklists & templates

THE MENTAL HEALTH CONTINUUM

A simple, shared model with four zones - Healthy, Reacting, Injured, Ill - to notice movement in mental health and choose the right actions at work.

Signs & indicators include:
  • Mood & tone (irritability, humour, cynicism)
  • Sleep & energy (restlessness, tiredness)
  • Performance & focus (procrastination, errors)
  • Social connection (avoidance, withdrawal)
Actions to take:
  • Healthy: maintain healthy habits, supports
  • Reacting: recognize limits, minimize stressors
  • Injured: talk to someone you trust; seek support
  • Ill: get help; follow professional recommendations

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

IS THIS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT?

Ontario employers have existing duties to provide a safe and healthy workplace and to accommodate disability, including mental health. The National Standard is currently voluntary; adopting its practices demonstrates due diligence and strengthens compliance posture.

DO YOU OFFER EMPLOYEE & MANAGER VERSIONS?

Yes - The Working Mind™ offers an employee stream and a leader/manager stream. We tailor content to your policies and support pathways.

CAN YOU ALIGN TRAINING TO OUR POLICIES?

Absolutely. We map training to your internal policies (e.g., accommodation, respectful workplace), EAP, and benefits, with clear "who to call" steps.

HOW MANY PEOPLE PER SESSION?

We recommend 10 - 24 participants per cohort for high engagement. Larger groups can be accommodated with additional facilitation.