Psychologically Healthy Workplaces

Workplace health and safety includes both physical and psychological health and safety. All good prevention practices start with identifying potential workplace hazards and taking steps to keep you and your employees safe. 

As WCB Nova Scotia prepares to support Nova Scotia workers and employers impacted by gradual onset psychological injury, get the information and resources you need to help you understand psychologically safe workplaces and how to get started.

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Creating psychologically healthy and safe workplaces in Nova Scotia

A psychologically healthy and safe workplace supports the well-being of employees and actively works to prevent harm to their psychological health. 

A workplace that is psychologically healthy and safe will respect and listen to workers, act on their concerns, and provide opportunities for workers to have some control over their work. This often results in fewer work-related injuries and illnesses, less time loss and shorter time off work when injuries and illnesses occur, less absenteeism, and more productive and engaged workers. 

Benefits of psychologically healthy and safe workplaces

Workers: Greater well-being and job satisfaction for workers.
  Managers: Healthier, more motivatived and productive workforce.
  Workplaces: Improved performance, reduced incident and injury rates, and lower absenteeism.

Fostering a mentally healthy workplace

Knowing the 13 psychosocial factors that impact – positively or negatively – a person’s psychological health, safety and well-being at work is the first step to fostering a mentally healthy workplace.

How psychologically healthy and safe is your workplace? Take this workplace assessment questionnaire to see how you rank your workplace and areas where you can get started.  

As defined by Guarding Minds at Work, there are 13 psychosocial factors to consider: 

  • Organizational culture
  • Clear leadership and expectations
  • Civility and respect
  • Psychological job demands 
  • Growth and development
  • Recognition and reward
  • Involvement and influence
  • Workload management
  • Engagement
  • Work/life balance
  • Psychological protection from violence, bullying and harassment
  • Protection of physical safety
  • Protection of psychological safety


Want to learn more about psychologically healthy and safe workplaces?
Check out these Frequently Asked Questions.

Video

A long-time supporter of workplace safety and mental health, Linda Corkum recognized the need to provide mental health education and training through her role as Executive Director at the Nova Scotia Trucking Safety Association. There, she brought in The Working Mind Program making it the first trucking association in Canada to implement the program.