Local Leaders Challenged to Make Workplace Mental Health a Priority with MindsMatter: Mayor Crombie

As communities from around the globe recently marked World Mental Health Day, I challenge local leaders from the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and across Ontario to make workplace mental health a priority by completing the MindsMatter assessment, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie said today in an open letter to her municipal colleagues.

“My office has partnered with the Healthy City Stewardship Centre and CivicAction to raise awareness about an important health issue that continues to impact the lives of so many people.”

I recognize the importance of supporting workplace mental health, Mayor Crombie said, adding that “we can always do more” and “this is why I have taken CivicAction’s new MindsMatter assessment to see how I can better support mental health in workplaces across Mississauga.”

CivicAction launched its new MindsMatter Mental Health in the Workplace program. It’s a call to action to leverage the workplace as an important resource, transform ideas into results, and encourage GTHA employers to take urgent action by 2019. The MindsMatter assessment is also available in French for completion. This initiative was developed with research undertaken by the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis and Morneau Shepell.

The program provides employers with a compelling, accessible platform that invites them to assess their level of mental health support. It motivates them to take practical actions, connects them with existing resources aligned with their needs and capacity, and benchmarks and celebrates progress over time.

“Take the recommended actions. Share your experience online through #MindsMatter. Encourage local employers to do the same,” Mayor Crombie said.

The program also provides actions for co-workers to take so that they can better support each other, similar to Mississauga’s peer crisis support teams, which trains employees to help their colleagues deal with work related challenges.

“At the City of Mississauga, we offer a number of important initiatives to safeguard and elevate the mental health and well-being of our professionals,” Mayor Crombie said. “Examples of the important services and care provided include alternative work arrangements, counselling for employees and families, and healthy food options.”

A backgrounder of City of Mississauga mental health initiatives is attached.

One in two people in the GTHA labour force have experienced a mental health issue. This will cost our region $17 billion over the next 10 years. “We can’t afford to go on this way,” Mayor Crombie said.

While there are many initiatives focused on workplace mental health in in the public, private and not for profit sectors, we can always do more. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 42% of business leaders in Canada are aware and interested in taking action on workplace mental health, but don’t know where to start.

“As more people and organizations talk about this issue than ever before, municipal leaders have an important platform to mobilize all local, provincial and national employers and employees to better support the mental well-being of their co-workers.”

“In turn, this will strengthen our people, our economy and our region. Together, we can take further action on workplace mental health, and create a region that’s healthy and prosperous,” Mayor Crombie concluded.