A lot of great responses as delegates discussed priority steps for building their own psychologically healthy workplace. Here are just a few of their ideas:
A lot of great responses as delegates discussed priority steps for building their own psychologically healthy workplace. Here are just a few of their ideas:
Attention turned to two screens, as a video introduced the speakers from three different sectors: insurance and the corporate sector, teaching and the public sector, and construction safety. Skillfully facilitating the conversation, Kathryn Gretsinger drew out stories from all three. Highlights below:
In the opening remarks, CMHA BC Division CEO Judy Moore, celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Bottom Line Conference. She made special mention of the 65 sponsors and 15 steering committee members that made the conference a reality, then welcomed long-time Committee Chair Lloyd Craig to the stage.
The morning opened with a prayer from Audrey Rivers, or Tiyaltelot, an Elder from the Squamish Nation. Welcomed by journalist and radio host, Kathryn Gretsinger, Rivers ascended the stage wearing a woven blanket as regalia. Rivers began by welcoming delegates to Salish territory, and acknowledged other nations, including the Sto:lo, Tsawassen, and Musqueam. She then acknowledged the past, present, and the future.
Hello from rainy Vancouver! Starting at 8:45am on Wednesday, Feb. 27, the CMHA team will be live blogging from the sold-out National Bottom Line Conference 2013. Our goal is to have each and every item on the program blogged and uploaded within minutes, to expand the conversation about mentally healthy workplaces to the web.
This year, we've got internationally renowned public health expert Dame Carol Black, as well as TSN sports host Michael Landsberg presenting their thoughts on mental health, so you won't want to miss the action.
The business case is clear. Organizations that protect the psychological health and safety of their workers have better reputations and are more productive. They can attract the most talented folks, keep them, and provide the kind of work environment where employees can stay well and contribute. And when people contribute, when they really buy in, productivity takes off.
Here are ten tips on how business and union leaders, from small or big organizations, can start to build psychologically healthy and safe workplaces.
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.'"
