Myths about Mental Health

Although people are talking about mental health more than ever, misconceptions in the media and elsewhere are keeping STIGMA alive. Thankfully, each of us can replace stigmatizing attitudes and language with more supportive conversations with ourselves and others.

The following are a few myths that we hold about mental health:

Mental health is the same as mental illness.

Mental health refers to one’s general state of psychological and emotional well-being. Much like physical health, it exists on a continuum from healthy to ill and can fluctuate depending on life factors. Maintaining good mental health is an important aspect of one’s overall well-being. Mental illness is a condition diagnosed by a qualified health care professional 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental illness.

It’s obvious when someone has a mental illness.

Mental illness is largely invisible, especially when someone is managing their symptoms with the support of a health care provider. Courses like Mental Health First Aid are helpful because they train people to recognize the signs of declining mental health and equip them with the tools to respond appropriately.

Some people are immune to mental illness.

No one is immune to mental illness, but risk and protective factors can play a big role. Risk factors such as childhood trauma. Protective factors include strong social connections, meaningful employment, and physical activity. While someone with many protective factors can still develop a mental illness (and vice versa), they do change the likelihood significantly.

Mental illness is a lifelong diagnosis.

Mental illness is treatable. It is possible to recover and even thrive following a mental illness. Recovery can involve the complete resolution of a mental health problem, but it can also be about having a renewed focus on personal control, resilience, and day-to-day functioning. Even with mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, which typically require lifelong symptom management, individuals can experience a very high quality of life.

Historically, mental health has faced more stigma and discrimination compared to physical health. However, there is growing recognition of the importance of mental health and efforts to reduce the associated stigma. Your call to action promotes more open conversations and awareness about mental health, which will help create a more supportive and inclusive workplace.

Additional Resources:

Government of Canada – Mental Health

MHCC – Mental Health Continuum

CAMH – Addressing Stigma

MHCC – Anti-StigmaFor more information, please contact:

Lesley MacKinnon
Manager, Safety
Lesley.Mackinnon@BethanySeniors.com

Or

Site OHS Committee Chair or RepresentativeLifeWorks supports employee health and well-being.

Bethany employees have access to a wide range of resources such as:

• LifeWorks Blog
• Webinars and Events
• 24/7 Specialist Counselling

Bethanycaresociety.lifeworks.com
username: bcs
Password: eap
Phone: 1-877-207-8833
Phone App: LifeWorks WorkAngel

What is the Internal Responsibility System?

A culture is a group’s shared attitudes, beliefs, and values. When you consider this definition; a safety culture is a shared attitude and belief that
safety is a value guiding an organization, meaning safety influences every decision made by an organization while pursuing the best care for the
residents and their families. One important way that safety culture is established in an organization is thru the implementation of what’s known
as the Internal Responsibility System .

The internal responsibility system puts into place an employer-worker relationship that ensures a safe and healthy workplace. Your site health and safety (HS) committee is the best way for this relationship to be fostered for the purpose of improving workplace health and safety.

 

How does the Internal Responsibility System work?

The internal responsibility system is the underlying philosophy of occupational health and safety legislation across Canada. Its foundation is
that everyone in the workplace, both workers and employers are responsible for his or her own safety and for the safety of their co-workers. Acts and regulations do not always impose or prescribe specific steps for compliance. Instead, it holds employers responsible for determining such steps to ensure the health and safety of all workers.

The internal responsibility system does the following:
• Creates collaboration and sharing of information
• Promotes safety culture and communication
• Promotes best practice
• Helps develop self-reliance
• Ensures compliance

Each person or group in the workplace shares the responsibility for health and safety at the site and works collaboratively to solve issues and make improvements. Bethany is responsible for maintaining policies and procedures to ensure a safe workplace, while employees are responsible for following safe work practices and reporting safety hazards to their supervisor and/or site HS rep.

Health and safety is a shared responsibility. Reporting incidents and hazards is an important first step. Volunteering for your site’s health and safety committee is another. Be part of the solutions and have a say!

 

Additional Resources:

Article – The Basics of a Strong Culture

Video – Working Together to Make the Workplace Better

Video – Organizational Culture

 

For more information, please contact:

Lesley MacKinnon
Manager, Safety
Lesley.Mackinnon@BethanySeniors.com

Or

Site OHS Committee Chair or RepresentativeLifeWorks supports employee health and well-being.

Bethany employees have access to a wide range of resources such as:

• LifeWorks Blog
• Webinars and Events
• 24/7 Specialist Counselling

Bethanycaresociety.lifeworks.com
username: bcs
Password: eap
Phone: 1-877-207-8833
Phone App: LifeWorks WorkAngel

March is nutrition month and a great time to focus on making healthy food choices that contribute to your overall health and well-being.

One easy concept to follow is what some experts refer to as the “80/20 rule.” If 80 percent of what you eat is healthy—with a healthy mix of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains- you can eat what you crave for the other 20 percent. Here are some additional tips.

Try to fit in two to three nutritious snacks throughout the day in addition to well-balanced main meals. This will give you energy throughout the day, even during a mid-shift slump.

Drink water throughout the day. Avoid soda and sports drinks, which are often high in sugar. Limit caffeinated beverages. Sugar and caffeine may make you feel great for a while, but when they wear off, you may feel even worse than before.

Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and include some fish in your diet. Try to build fruits and vegetables into your diet every day. Snack on apples, oranges, berries, dried fruit, carrot sticks, and other fruits and vegetables.

Keep an eye on portion size. Research has found large portions cause people to keep eating after they’re full. Using a smaller plate for meals will help to curb your food intake.

If junk food is your downfall, don’t buy it. Shop with a list to avoid impulsive buys. The healthiest foods are usually around the outer perimeter of the grocery store, so stay away from the aisles where the processed foods tend to be.

Track your intake. When you keep a food diary (on paper or through an app), you will think twice about eating and snacking. Make yourself accountable for all that you eat.For more information, please contact:

Lesley MacKinnon
Manager, Safety
Lesley.Mackinnon@BethanySeniors.com

Or

Site OHS Committee Chair or RepresentativeLifeWorks supports employee health and well-being.

Bethany employees have access to a wide range of resources such as:

• LifeWorks Blog
• Webinars and Events
• 24/7 Specialist Counselling

Bethanycaresociety.lifeworks.com
username: bcs
Password: eap
Phone: 1-877-207-8833
Phone App: LifeWorks WorkAngel

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) Awareness Day is February 28th. As the
only “non-repetitive” day of the year, it’s the ideal date to devote to
raising awareness of repetitive strain injuries.

Repetitive strain injuries (RSI) or musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) may be
caused by your work tasks or activities. Remember to always use proper
body mechanics so you can stay healthy and safe at work and at home!
Bethany has seen an increase in musculoskeletal injuries lately at our care
sites. Sprains and strains are the most common type of injury in healthcare
with backs being the most impacted.

The Risks
These factors together or in combination can lead to increased MSI risks.
• Force: Refers to the amount of effort made by the muscles, and the
amount of pressure on body parts because of different job demands.
• Postures: For most joints, a good or “neutral” posture means that the
joints are being used near the middle of their full range of motion.
Maintaining the natural “S” shape of our spines will help increase the
safety of our backs and shoulders.
• Repetition: The risk for developing MSI increases when the same parts
of the body are used repeatedly. Highly repetitive tasks can lead to
fatigue, tissue damage, and eventually pain and discomfort.
• Duration: The amount of risk depends on how long (the total time in the
workday) you are exposed to the risk factor.

Report Early
Reporting injuries early is key! Early reporting leads to early treatment and
a better chance of recovery. Informing your supervisor right away that
you’ve experienced a work-related injury is critical. Learn the signs of MSIs:
swelling, redness, difficulty moving, stiffness, numbness or tingling and
pain.

If you require treatment beyond first aid, or if you missed time from work,
you need to report it. Report your injury to Workers Compensation Board
(WCB) after telling your supervisor or manager. Let your doctor know that
you have sustained an injury at work and follow through with any
prescribed treatments.For more information, please contact:

Lesley MacKinnon
Manager, Safety
Lesley.Mackinnon@BethanySeniors.com

Or

Site OHS Committee Chair or RepresentativeLifeWorks supports employee health and well-being.

Bethany employees have access to a wide range of resources such as:

• LifeWorks Blog
• Webinars and Events
• 24/7 Specialist Counselling

Bethanycaresociety.lifeworks.com
username: bcs
Password: eap
Phone: 1-877-207-8833
Phone App: LifeWorks WorkAngel