Valuing the overall health and well-being of employees, providing opportunities for personal and professional growth, mental health education programs, and work place wellness plans – are all elements of a mentally healthy workplace that were honoured by CMHA Kelowna, November 22.
Mentally Healthy Workplace awards were handed out to a small and large business in Kelowna that demonstrated a commitment to fostering mental health in the workplace. Pihl Law Corporation received the honour for small business while the RCMP Southeast District took the honours for large business.
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| Mentally Healthy Workplace, Small Business award winner – Pihl Law Corporation (Okanagan Photography) |
Mentally Healthy Workplace, Large Business award winner – RCMP Southeast District (Okanagan Photography) |
“It’s a privilege for Pihl Law to be recognized as part of a growing number of businesses and organizations who are making mental health a priority in their workplace. Purposefully building a mentally healthy work culture takes commitment and we believe that it’s important for leaders to start by taking a first step. Pihl Law leadership believes that prioritizing our team’s health is not only our responsibility and the right thing to do but also that the benefits of these efforts far outweigh our investment.” Jody Pihl, Pihl Law Corporation.
“We are very honoured to be recognized by CMHA Kelowna for our commitment to mental health in the workplace,” says Chief Superintendent Brad Haugli, Southeast District RCMP District Commander. “Through strong leadership and a committed training team, more than 1500 members have taken the Road to Mental Readiness course to better prepare police officers and support staff to deal with stress related mental health issues.”
More than two hundred professionals filled the room to celebrate the winners and hear the keynote address from Second Cup founder Frank O’Dea, who told the passionate story of how he went from homelessness to celebrated businessperson with the Order of Canada. Event attendees were also provided with low and no-cost mental health tools and resources they could implement right away in their places of work.
“This event is about highlighting the good that is being done in workplaces when it comes to mental health,” explains CMHA Kelowna Executive Director Shelagh Turner. “We know that mental health, at work and within ourselves, is a journey not a destination. It is a moving target and so we really want to take time to celebrate and share the efforts that are being taken by those businesses who are stepping up and making the journey a priority.”
According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, in any given week more than 500,000 Canadians are unable to work due to mental health problems or illnesses. Subsequently, this costs the Canadian economy up to $55 billion each year due to days off work, lost productivity and disability claims.
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