Canadian HR Reporter - Sample Issue

Credit: am70 (Shutterstock) By Ian Boyko B y its nature, the unique and danger- ous work setting on off shore oilrig Hibernia takes a toll on workers. e platform is 315 kilometres off the coast of St. John's and is the workplace and temporary home to 270 workers who rotate 21 days on the platform and 21 days at home. Being away from friends and family for long periods can diminish workers' normal coping mechanisms during stressful experi- ences. Furthermore, off shore workers can feel helpless if there are family problems back home, according to Steve Tizzard, a member of Unifor Local 2121's health and safety committee at Hibernia. To combat these risks to mental health, a worker-led Platform Wellness Committee decided to develop a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program at Hibernia in 2015. And the mental health awareness pro- gram went on to receive national recog- nition from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), winning the C.M. Hincks Award. e award is named after Clarence Meridith Hincks who was a leg- endary fi gure in Canadian mental health and founded the Canadian National Com- mittee for Mental Hygiene in 1918. e award is provided annually to an outstanding organization that has ad- vanced mental health through its work or volunteer activities in the areas of reduc- ing stigma and discrimination, addressing social justice and the social determinants of health, and maintaining or improving mental health for all, according to the CMHA. e campaign at Hibernia Management and Development Company beat out 10 other nominees to win the award to "hon- our workplaces for exemplary processes, tools and programs that foster positive mental health for employees." "We're so thrilled that Unifor members could take a leadership role in improving mental health in this unique workplace," says Sari Sairanen, Toronto-based director of health and safety at Unifor. "When work- ers are involved from the ground up, health and safety campaigns are always going to be more eff ective and more innovative." Background Founded on "actively caring," the Hibernia program has three components: training workers in MHFA; mental health awareness "moments" for team safety meetings; and actively caring in the community. First aid for mental health is gaining prominence as a critical part of any work- place's health and safety toolbox. MHFA is provided to someone experiencing a mental health problem or crisis. Like physical fi rst aid, which is given as a fi rst response before professional medical treatment is available, MHFA is administered until a professional health-care provider can help. From panic attacks to suicidal thoughts, MHFA interventions can provide comfort, help prevent problems from escalating, and save lives. Not only can this immediate intervention help workers to address needs and be safer at work, it can reduce losses in a workplace resulting from disabilities and absenteeism. Mental health has an impact on an entire workplace, not just the person living and surviving with the need. Employers can also benefi t from strategies that reduce confl ict and increase recruitment and retention. e campaign has been a success be- cause the MHFA program was devised with workers and not implemented from the top-down, says Unifor. "Workers want to be engaged and invest- ed in their workplace health and safety, and mental health promotion is no diff erent," says Sairanen. Back on the oil platform, Local 2121 has trained more than 300 workers on MHFA. e training is free and off ered by trained instructors who are also co-workers. Some of the unique challenges for off - shore workers mentioned above — for example, caring for family from a distance — are integrated into the curriculum. Guest speakers who have suff ered from mental health issues are also invited to share their stories. Mental health awareness "moments" are presentations at off shore safety meetings, led by workers who take advantage of one of 16 videos in an online library. A new topic is chosen every 42 days, based on worker and leadership feedback. Content and speaker notes are developed by safety and occupational health teams on- shore, and the presentations at safety meet- ings off shore are led by workers. Topics have included: depression, anxiety, caring for your family from a dis- tance, and substance abuse and talking to teenagers. e Hibernia program's third component involves reaching out to the community. In 2015, Hibernia partnered with the Gath- ering Place in St. John's, an organization that assists the homeless or precariously housed. Many people there have complex physical and mental health issues. Hibernia workers support the Gathering Place by volunteering as groups on a regular basis on diff erent initiatives. For example, they prepare and serve food, do mainte- nance work and spend time with guests. Looking ahead When asked what the future holds for the program, Tizzard is optimistic. "I think this training has a bright future because more workplaces are starting to recognize that mental health is not a pri- vate matter to ignore and sweep under the rug," he says. Within Unifor, Mental Health First Aid is catching on. Tizzard has been at sev- eral events outside his home province of Newfoundland and Labrador to discuss training and getting new programs off the ground. He says he's been encouraged by the openness shown by both workers and employers. "Important conversations are starting about tackling mental health and mental ill- ness at work. I couldn't say that 10 years ago." Ian Boyko is the New Westminster, B.C.-based communications representative at Unifor. For more information about Unifor Local 2121's training, email Steve Tizzard at steve@ allthebestconsulting.com. For information about Mental Health First Aid, visit www.mhfa.ca. "When workers are involved from the ground up, health and safety campaigns are always going to be more effective and more innovative." Award-winning awareness campaign by Hibernia workers, Unifor combats oilrig's unique risks to mental health MENTAL HEALTH FEATURES

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