Psychological health is a complex area that encompasses social, emotional, and cognitive well-being. It focuses on how individuals react to and deal with the stress and challenges of daily life. The mental health of an individual affects how they perceive themselves and their environment, and how they make decisions. Therefore, improving workplace psychological health can contribute to organizational performance and productivity as well as employee satisfaction. In addition to improving the quality of employees’ lives, improving psychological health in the workplace can lead to a reduction in lost work time and health costs.
A substantial body of research has established a link between psychological health and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Although there are many potential confounders, a significant amount of evidence supports the association between negative psychological factors and CVD.
However, there is still much more to be learned. Many studies have explored a variety of psychological factors, such as negative emotions, perceived stress, and behavioral characteristics. Others have looked at how these factors influence cardiovascular health and behavior. Some studies have been observational, while others have used objective measures of CVD. These studies have generally adjusted for a large number of potential confounders. While the relationship between psychological factors and CVD remains to be confirmed, a comprehensive understanding of how they interact with each other is essential to understanding how to improve them.
Psychological health research is a key component of wellness and overall health. It involves a broad range of professionals, including clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers. They help people with emotional conditions or those going through life changes, and often work with science-based treatment options. They can also provide practical strategies to help organizations address workplace psychological health.
Psychological health in the workplace impacts a large segment of Canadians, with approximately 500,000 Canadians not going to work due to psychological health issues each week. This is a high cost to society, and a burden on communities. As a result, employers and other stakeholders have an obligation to take reasonable action to create safe workplaces.
The National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (BNQ 9700-803/2013) is a set of voluntary guidelines for organizations. This guideline is intended to be a concise introduction to the topic of workplace psychological health, and to help organizations identify and address risks to psychological health.
This Guideline supports the mandate of the Labour Program to protect the mental health of employees. It provides relevant definitions, practical strategies to address workplace psychological health, and valuable resources for organization leaders. Using this guideline, organizations can reduce the impact of psychological factors on employee performance and engagement.
Improved workplace psychological health can increase employee satisfaction and reduce turnover rates. It also increases employee engagement and decreases lost work time. Employees can gain insight into their own mental health and develop better coping skills. With improved psychological health, organizations can reduce the costs associated with employee turnover, lower health costs, and increase employee engagement.