Prioritizing Mental Health
January is known to be a month where Canadians can experience heightened anxiety and depression, as the holidays wind down and the days are still short. Thursday January 22 will mark the end of the ten darkest weeks of the year. In fact, the third Monday of January (the Monday that just passed!) is known as “Blue Monday,” a day for feeling particularly low.
Psychology Month
Whether you work in an office, a factory, or remotely, psychosocial hazards can effect your mental health and productivity. Prioritizing workplace mental health means emphasizing the importance of positive communication and respect in workplaces. It also involves taking time out of your day to prioritize lowering stress and anxiety. February is Psychology Month, that, according to the Canadian Psychology Association, is to “show Canadians how psychology works to help people live healthy and happy lives, their communities flourish, their employers create better workplaces, and their governments develop effective policies.”
Globally there are mental health campaigns at this time of year to address the mid-winter blues. Remember to take time for your mental health! There is help available if you need it, either through your workplace or the Canadian Psychology Association website.
Addressing workplace mental health is one of OHCOW’s primary functions. Our StressAssess Survey Tool and App is a free, evidence-based online survey tool designed to assist workplaces in identifying psychosocial hazards that can lead to stress and mental injury, providing suggestions and pathways to address them, and preventing the harms that can result. It has personal and workplace editions, and is available in desktop and app formats.
