Psychological health involves a complex interaction of various stressors. A person’s mental health relates to how an individual handles interpersonal relationships, copes with stress, and makes decisions. In addition, psychological health is tied to one’s emotional health and social well-being.
Creating a psychologically healthy workplace helps promote employee satisfaction and productivity. It also has the potential to reduce lost work time, decrease turnover, and lower health care costs. As an employer, you have a responsibility to create a safe and productive environment for your employees. This guide will help you do so.
The National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (NSCPSW) is an extensive framework for addressing this issue. The tools and resources within the standard are intended to provide guidance for employers. Using the standard can provide the most benefit to your organization.
Psychological safety involves the prevention of injury to an individual’s psychological well-being. Whether it is a workplace accident, or a traumatic stressor, it can negatively impact an individual’s life. When an individual is unable to deal with a difficult situation, they may develop a psychological disorder, which can lead to a number of complications. If the worker is suffering from PTSD, then they may experience disengagement from their job and organizational culture, which can lead to further problems.
Several studies have been done to determine the relationship between psychological health and various workplace factors. These include the following:
Aside from the health, social, and occupational factors, there are several other factors that affect a person’s psychological state. For instance, smoking can increase the risk of developing heart disease and cancer. Another factor is economic hardship, which can have a negative effect on an individual’s emotional well-being. Similarly, the demands of an ordinary job can be overwhelming and may exceed an individual’s coping capacity.
There are many types of psychological health services available. These can include group therapy, telehealth, and substance abuse counseling. Other psychological health-related services may include suicide prevention hotlines.
Although the term “psychological health” is often vague, the concept is important to a wide range of Canadians. A psychologically healthy workplace actively works to avoid harm to the psychological well-being of its employees. Such organizations recognize the benefits of this approach and see the value in creating a safe environment for their employees.
The National Standard of Canada for Psychological health and Safety in the Workplace (NSCPSW) provides a comprehensive framework for creating a positive and healthy working environment. It provides an overview of the concept of psychological health, provides definitions of various terms, and recommends practical strategies for different levels of an organization.
The American Heart Association has also issued a scientific statement on psychological health. This scientific statement suggests a handful of simple steps to improve an individual’s psychological health. Likewise, the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada has been actively promoting the importance of wellness and work place safety in the workplace. They offer a variety of programs and services to promote psychological health and workplace safety.