Are You Okay? Keeping Tabs on Mental Health
The toll of the pandemic on the mental health of Canadians is alarming. What began as a sudden, unprecedented disruption turned into years of uncertainty, stress, change, and isolation.
We continue to live in a changed reality—particularly in tourism. The full resumption of the travel economy in Canada depends on numerous global factors. We recognize that many jobs have been lost, businesses shuttered, and lives altered. It will take time to get back on our feet. As we do so—and even once we have—it is vital for us to support each other and take care of ourselves as we try to manage the disruption to our lives.
To help with this, we’ve collected a number of resources to understand mental health in the workplace and offer ways to help process the ongoing stress. Our hope is these will raise awareness of what signs and symptoms to look for in oneself and others, and direct us all to the expert advice and guidance that will help us cope in a healthy, positive way.
First and foremost: if you are in immediate danger, please contact emergency services for your area.
You can also access support workers, social workers, psychologists, and other professionals—confidentially:
Text WELLNESS to 686868
For youth
Text WELLNESS to 741741
For adults
The Mental Health Commission of Canada provides this graph summarizing the mental health continuum model and corresponding actions to take.
It’s OK not to be OK. The Government of Canada wisely asserts that fear, stress, and worry are normal in a crisis. You might feel like you’re no longer in control of things. It’s normal to feel sad, stressed, confused, scared, or worried. People react in different ways. Some common feelings include:
- A sense of being socially excluded or judged
- Concern about your children’s education and well-being
- Worry about losing your job, not being able to work, or finances
- Fear of being apart from loved ones due to isolation or physical distancing
- Helplessness, boredom, loneliness, and depression due to isolation or physical distancing
Find a way to cope that works for you. You may want to get out and run no matter what the weather or try simple stretches in the comfort of your home. You may want to chat on the phone for hours or find five minutes of peace and quiet in a crowded house. Below is some overarching advice to help guide healthy strategies:
- Stay socially connected, whether it’s video chat, social media, or even snail mail
- Practise mindfulness, from simple deep breaths to a guided meditation routine
- Try to eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, and get adequate, restful sleep
- Limit your use of substances
- Focus on what you can control
- Be kind to yourself and others
Seek support—anytime. While some may feel like they need to reach breaking point before seeking professional support, please know that it’s okay to reach out even if you’re just needing another perspective or have questions about healthy behaviours. The sooner you feel supported and understood, the more manageable the stress is.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada has curated this excellent list of resources:
Anxiety Canada
Anxiety in Adults
Bell Lets Talk
Let’s get through this together
Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
Youth and Emerging Adults
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
Finding Help
Canadian Women’s Foundation
Signal for Help
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
Coping with Stress and Anxiety
go2HR
go2HR and the Canadian Mental Health Association - BC Division exploring Mental Health at Work
Hospitality Stay Strong
The Ontario Restaurant, Hotel & Motel Association has partnered with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to offer this industry resource.
Mental Health Commission of Canada
Workplace Mental Health
Not 9 to 5
Not 9 to 5 offers mental health resources for the foodservice industry.
Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres
Healthcare options - Crisis support and counselling
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
Mental Health Resources available in Ontario
Tourism Industry Association of the Yukon
Canada-Wide Mental Health Resources available online
WellCan
Free mental health digital resource for all Canadians brought to you by Morneau Shepell.
Targeted Support for Employers and Managers
In the hard-hit tourism sector, employers are facing the stress of both managing their own mental health and that of their staff.
As stated by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, while managers are not—and should not be expected to be—medical experts, they need to be comfortable having discussions about mental health and recognize they will often be the first port of call when a colleague wants to raise an issue.
The Institute recommends employers:
- Support and guide their managers so that they feel equipped to have sensitive and supportive discussions with staff
- Remind managers about the importance of communicating regularly with their team and asking how they are.
- Encourage staff to practise self-care such as a healthy routine for diet, sleep, and relaxation
- Promote their existing health and well-being benefits and support, for example signposting people to their counselling helpline.
Below we offer some resources to help managers and HR teams with supporting their staff through the COVID crisis—and beyond.
Canadian Mental Health Association offers a Guide to assist Employers and Supervisors with direct-reports to their responsibilities under the Accessible Employment Standard:
McKinsey & Company published an article highlighting employee mental health as the workforce returns after the pandemic:
- National surveys reveal disconnect between employees and employers around mental health needs
- Women’s representation and how leaders worldwide can address the stigma surrounding mental health
The Daily expands on the various high levels of work-related stress and the negative impacts it can have on one’s health:
Spill Team lists mental health statistics and trends since the pandemic:
Randstad details actions employers can take to make mental health a priority in the workplace:
Human Resources Director discusses ways in which HR can help relieve employee stress:
Harvard Business Review looks at leadership when the leaders themselves are drained:
Ottawa Public Health makes recommendations to support mental health for a variety of workplaces:
Make It Our Business provides guidance on how employers can help support staff subjected to domestic violence:
CEO Health & Safety Leadership Network shares a range of resources for employers, ranging from leadership behaviours to handling compassion fatigue and burnout: