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Work and Well-being Research and Evaluation Program,
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
and the University of Toronto
Convergence on “Mental Health in the Workplace” |
Ask someone who participated in the Mental Health in the Workplace Convergence
held in Simcoe Hall's Council Chambers on Wednesday April 23rd, 2008
and they'll tell you that you can learn a lot in five minutes.
Those present at the convergence, co-hosted by the University of Toronto
and the Work and Well-being Research and Evaluation Program at the Centre
for Addiction and Mental Health, had the chance to hear from 19 experts
conducting research on or addressing a wide variety of issues relating
to mental health in the workplace.
The research presented was as varied and complex as the issues that
surround employment and mental health. Present were experts in the fields
of psychology, psychiatry, sociology, employment, health economy and
physical education and health, human resources, employee assistance
and consumer survivors.
The convergence, co-chaired and facilitated Dr. Donald Wasylenki, Chair,
Department of Psychiatry and Dr. Angela Hildyard, Vice-President, Human
Resources and Equity, allowed each presenter five minutes to give a
brief overview of their current research or work.
Those present were introduced to programs designed to reintegrate people
with mental health issues into the workplace and informed about the
importance of early mental health assessment and intervention in cases
of injured workers. Attendees were also made aware of stresses introduced
when new technology and schedule demands blur the boundaries between
work and home and asked to consider the role physical activity can play
in easing workplace mental health concerns.
The variety of presentations highlighted what Professor Hildyard noted
in her opening remarks as the “increased complexity of [mental health]
issues that have come forward” and provided examples of how employers,
including the University of Toronto, can respond to these issues in
“compassionate, but appropriate ways”.
In thanking the presenters Dr. Wasylenki remarked that work is the ultimate
confirmation of identity, offering the example that in most cases upon
meeting someone the first question they ask is “How are you?” and the
second is “What do you do?” It is because work plays such a significant
role in our lives that this research and these meetings are so valuable.
The organizers reviewed the evaluations and developed a series of seminars
to explore the research in more detail.
Update: May 25, 2009
Based on recommendations from the participants, a Speakers' Series on
Workplace Mental Health has been ongoing since the convergence. The
next seminar in the series is Pain and Medication Use during
Return to Work: "If you don't pick up, you're cut off" - June 17th,
2009
Seminar
delivered by : Ellen MacEachen, PhD, Scientist, Institute
for Work & Health, Assistant Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public
Health, University of Toronto.
Sponsored by :
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Work and Well-being Research and Evaluation Program.
University
of Toronto , Health & Well-being Programs and Services.
Hosted by :
Carolyn Dewa, Work and Well-being Research and Evaluation Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health/Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto .
Myra Lefkowitz, Manager, Health & Well-being Programs and Services, University of Toronto .
Current policy and literature on injured worker medication overuse generally cast this as a problem of individual frailty or a criminal offense. This talk describes how some situations of worker pain and medication overuse are linked to policies and practices of early return to work following a work injury. Based on in-depth interviews with injured workers and service providers, we find that systems can be strongly oriented to return to work. These systems, together with workers' fear of job loss or cessation of compensation benefits, can prompt pain coping strategies that involve the use of excessive medication.
20
minute talk followed by 30 minutes for questions/discussion.
12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Additional
30 minute discussion period for those who can stay.
1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
RSVP: mh&wk@camh.net by June 12th.
Location : University of Toronto , St. George Campus » Health Sciences Building » HS 614.
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For further information on the original Convergence, please link to
the following sections:
Convergence
Presenters
Participants
Presenters' Notes