Workplace Mental Health: A Multifaceted Approach

At the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP), our mental health program has evolved over the last five years. Our multipronged approach has been effective in creating a psychologically safe culture where mental health challenges are normalized. We would love to share some of the following tactics that have garnered HOOPP recognition with a recent award from Benefits Canada:

• Keeping a data-driven approach that includes an annual review of data and several inputs (including focus groups with employee resource groups)
• Providing comprehensive mental health benefits and partnering with a vendor that provides ease of access to discounted services for psychological support
• Developing mental health training for people leaders and integrating it into the general HOOPP management training program
• Partnering with a mental health consultant to provide coaching on an ad hoc basis to people leaders who are navigating the challenge of supporting staff with mental health challenges—ensuring they have the tools to manage conversations, boundaries and balance with their own needs
• Implementing preventative programming to complement the above, such as seminars on nutrition and mood, activities that incent physical activity and social connection, and courses on managing anxiety and stress.