BottomLine2012's blog

Lloyd Craig, Bottom Line Conference Steering Committee Chair, came back on stage to share about how we have made much progress, how we will continue to make progress, and how with continual progress, stigma will fall away. He told a story of how in the mid-80s, in the forestry industry -- then considered a hazardous work environment -- it was considered revolutionary when a business leader pledged to ensure that all workers would be able to "keep their arms and legs." Now, in 2012, we are discussing how workers can thrive in psychologically safe workplaces. How far we've come.

A video flashed on the main screens, accompanied by the rhythm of a driving drum beat. Delegates saw images of bikers pedaling through downtown Vancouver, images of people gathered at Roger's Arena, and finally, images of a young BC schoolteacher speaking out about mental illness.

This video described Michael Schratter's bike ride around the world on behalf of CMHA in order to battle stigma surrounding mental illness: Ride Don't Hide.

As the video faded out, Kathryn Gretsinger and Michael Schratter settled into an interview about his experience.

Peter Coleridge, CMHA National CEO, addressed the conference delegates, first by thanking all involved. Kathryn Gretsinger for her excellent hosting, CMHA BC Division's planning committee, and Great West Life's ongoing support of the conference.

He also recognized two volunteers in particular, saying how important volunteer leadership is in order to take mental heath in the workplace to a national level. These volunteers were Judy Moore, BC Division Board Chair, and Lloyd Craig, Chair of the Bottom Line Conference Planning Committee Chair.

Mid-way through the afternoon, delegates once again gathered at their tables and wrote down answers to the following question:

What steps are you planning to take back at your workplaces?

This was a much-valued opportunity to process all the knowledge, stories, and resources that had been shared during the conference and brainstorm how to apply them at their own work sites. Host Kathryn Gretsinger joked, "As I overheard CMHA National CEO Peter Coleridge say, 'Let's take 5 minutes to solve all our problems right now.'"

Fred Smith, Regional Director of Group Benefits at Great-West Life, took to the stage to introduce Dr. Joti Samra.

He described Dr. Samra as a "passionate advocate for organizational change." She is a clinical psychologist and the past president of the BC Psychological Association, as well as the Chair of the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Collaborative.

Dr. Samra took to the stage in a burst of energy, opening her presentation with a Dilbert comic strip, generating chuckles throughout the conference.

Introducing the four leadership panelists:

Dr. Paul Farnan - As a medical doctor and partner with HealthQuest Occupational Health Corporation, Paul acts as a consultant to many organizations on issues relating to the health and safety of their workforce.

Michelle Laurie - The president of Local 258 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and the chair of the BC Fed Health and Safety Committee, Michelle has held leadership positions at many levels.

The Honorable Mary Collins, chair of The Vancouver Board of Trade’s Health, Wellness, and Well-Being Task Force, took to the stage in a pink scarf. She has worked with the World Health Organization in Russia, and served as a local MP for more than a decade.

At the conference, Honorable Collins released a landmark report entitled, Psychologically Healthy Workplaces: Improving Bottom Line Results and Employee Psychological Well-Being.