Chris Hylton is a human resources consultant with over 20 years of experience. In this presentation, he discusses creating safe mental health workplaces. He defines mental health as a state of well-being where individuals can realize their abilities and cope with normal stresses. Hylton then covers types of mental health issues like addictions, anxiety, and depression. Finally, he proposes solutions for workplaces to promote mental wellness, such as employee assistance programs, physical health initiatives, and managerial support through open communication.

1. Creating Safe Mental Health
Workplaces
By Chris Hylton, MA,
CG Hylton & Associates Inc.

2. Introduction
 Chris Hylton
 MA, Principal of CG Hylton & Associates
 Over 20 years of experience
 Human Resource Consultant
 Benefits – individual and Group
 Insurance – individual and Group
 Workshops
 EAP

3. Agenda
 What is mental health?
 Types of mental health
 Addictions
 Mental health issues
 Solutions for a healthy mental health
workplace
 EAP
 Physicalsolutions
 Workplace solutions
 Managerial and Supervisor support

4. What is Mental Health?
 World Health Organization defines mental
health as "a state of well-being in which
the individual realizes his or her own
abilities, can cope with the normal
stresses of life, can work productively and
fruitfully, and is able to make a
contribution to his or her community”

5. What is Mental Health?
 People learning and be able to cope with:
 Stress
 Changes in life and the workplace
 Demands in the workplace
 Home life
 Work life

6. Types of Mental Health: What
Can Cause Stress
 Unbalanced work and home life
 Physical Illness – disease or illness
 Mental Health – anxiety, depression, anger,
etc
 Problems with coping with issues

7. Types of mental health :
Addictions
 Definition: being abnormally tolerant to and
dependent on something that is
psychologically or physically habit-forming
 Examples: alcohol, drugs, gambling, shopping,
eating, etc

8. Types of mental health : Mental
Wellbeing
 It is important to find the balance in life:
family, work, school, and any other side
projects or important aspects of your life
 Canadian workers spend about 60% of
their waking hours at work

9. Types of mental health : Mental
Wellbeing
“Research shows that most
employees believe the
workplace is an appropriate
and effective place to promote
health and well-being issues.”

10. Solution: Prevention!
 Planned action to stop the development of
addictive behaviours, and promote health
enhancing behaviours

11. Physical Solutions
 Prevent physical illnesses by offering
employees time to stretch, walk, exercise, etc
 For example: offer gym memberships
 If one person is sick in the office, send them
home! One person sick is better than everyone
being sick.

12. Workplace Solutions
 Make the work place a positive place!
 Celebrate birthdays
 Celebrate holidays
 Team building exercises: staff day at the movies,
staff day in the park, etc
 Sit fighting co-workers down and help solve the
issues between them
 Have a zero tolerance policy

13. Companies can provide
programs
 EAP – Employee Assistant Program
 A program that offers:
 short-term, professional counselling and referral
services
 support in dealing with a wide range of stressful
situations (personal/work related)
 assistance and advise
 Services are free and confidential

14. Management Support
 Greet your staff
 Have an open door policy
 Listen to your staff and make sure they’re
happy where they are

15. Thank
You!
Questions
?