MEDIA ADVISORY - Mental Health Protection at Work: A Perfect Legal Storm

CALGARY, Sept. 27 /CNW/ - For the first time in Canadian history, employers are confronted with a legal duty to maintain not only a physically safe workplace, but also a psychologically safe work environment. Trends in legislation and case law are increasingly imposing obligations on employers with regard to mental health in the workplace. The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) is bringing together employers, union leaders, and health and safety and legal workplace experts to discuss these issues on Thursday, September 30, in Vancouver.

At the meeting, the MHCC will be sharing findings published in Tracking the Perfect Legal Storm, a report prepared by Dr. Martin Shain (University of Toronto), an academic lawyer and leading expert in workplace mental health. It warns that a perfect legal storm is brewing in the area of mental health protection at work, bringing with it a rising tide of potential liability for employers who do not provide or maintain a psychologically safe workplace. The support, strategies and tools required by employers to provide a mentally healthy workplace will be discussed at the meeting.

According to Shain, the pressures of the modern workplace can lead to common mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety and burnout, which can sometimes be characterized as mental injury. Courts and tribunals are scrutinizing behaviour that may cause mental injury to employees.

What:	Dr. Shain will present findings published in the Tracking the Perfect Legal Storm report to employers, union leaders, and health and safety and legal workplace experts.
When:	Thursday, September 30, 9:50 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Dr. Shain will present the report findings. Spokespeople will be available for interviews on site from 7:30 a.m.
Who:	Dr. Martin Shain — author of Tracking the Perfect Legal Storm
	Mary Ann Baynton — member of the MHCC's Workforce Advisory Committee and Program Director for the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace
	Arnie Cader and Susan Jakobson — two business professionals who will speak about the human impact of the legal issues referred to in Shain's report, based on their own experiences with mental illness at work
	Michael Pietrus - Director, Opening Minds, who can speak about the MHCC's work to address stigma in the workplace
Where:	Hyatt Regency Vancouver, 655 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2R7

The meeting is sponsored by The Great-West Life Assurance Company's national corporate citizenship program in support of the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace. The meeting coincides with the Health Work & Wellness™ Conference, which takes place at the Hyatt from September 29 - October 2.

For further information:

Karleena Suppiah, MHCC Communications
Tel: [phone]  Cell: 403 370-3835 [email protected]