Guided Documents

A psychologically healthy and safe workplace is one that promotes and supports employee mental health and well-being by assessing and addressing how policies, procedures, practices, and interactions affect employees, the workplace environment, and the campus culture.

The University of Regina is committed to ensuring psychological health and safety is recognized by adopting the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace as outlined in the Well-being and Belonging focus in the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan. The National Standard is a collaboration of guidelines, tools and resources for Canadian organizations to promote and support a psychologically healthy workplace.

To implement the National Standard, a cross-functional committee assesses and addresses the psychosocial factors that impact the workplace and promote and support mental health and well-being of employees.  As an institution, we have made great strides with many of the these factors, and are actively working towards enhancing all of the factors in the workplace.

Implementing the National Standard is a journey involving consultation and collaboration with multiple stakeholders and the evaluation of programs and processes. The University ensures compliance through continuous monitoring and periodic reporting, as well as a verification process using Action Tracker created by the Mental Health Commission of Canada and Social Research & Demonstration Corporation.

 These short videos provide more information on the National Standard 

Thirteen Psychosocial Factors in the Workplace

The Thirteen Psychosocial Factors in the Workplace (as discussed above) were developed by researchers from the Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction at Simon Fraser University.  On the basis of extensive research, including data analysis of a national sample and reviews of national and international best practices, as well as existing and emerging Canadian case law and legislation, these Factors are relevant to all Canadian organizations and employees.

The psychological factors are elements that impact employees’ psychological responses to work and work conditions. Psychological factors include the way work is executed (deadlines, workload, work methods) and the context in which work occurs, including relationships and interactions with managers and supervisors, colleagues and coworkers, and clients or customers.

The workplace factors are interrelated and therefore influence one another, positive or negative changes in one factor are likely to change other factors in a similar manner.

Visit the Guarding Minds at Work website to learn more about the thirteen psychosocial risk factors in the workplace.

What is the Standard?

The National Standard of Canada for Mental-Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students — the first of its kind in the world — is a set of flexible, voluntary guidelines to help post-secondary institutions support the mental-health and well-being of their students.

Pursuing a post-secondary education can be exciting and challenging. It is an important time to be aware of how to maintain optimal mental health and how to deal with issues when they occur.

The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) has started a two-year project to develop a Standard on Psychological Health and Safety for post-secondary students. These guidelines will help Canada’s post-secondary institutions promote and support student psychological health and safety, and support student success. The Standard will build upon and learn from many outstanding programs, frameworks, and promising practices that exist.

Who will be impacted by the Standard?

Post-secondary students, colleges, universities, polytechnic institutions, CECEPS, staff, faculty, administration, and campus unions will be directly impacted by the Standard. Indirect impacts related to
improved student mental health and student success in post-secondary institutions are also expected within students’ social networks and support environments, such as families, caregivers, faith-based groups, and other community members.

How does the Standard address the diverse needs of students?

The Standard promotes the involvement of every student, regardless of their ability, age, ancestry, culture, disability, ethnicity, family status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, geographic location, language (or linguistic background), marital status, nationality or national origin/place of origin, political beliefs or association, race, religion, religious beliefs or association, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, source of income, student status, other relevant characteristics, or any and all intersections of these characteristics.

Key outcomes of support with the Standard include:

• raising awareness about mental health and decrease mental illness-related stigma
• providing more healthy and safe institutional environments
• improved opportunities for student success and flourishing
• promoting life and resiliency skills that students can use at school, work, and in daily life

Access your copy of the Standard.  Add the complimentary Standard to your cart and create a CSA Store account to download it for free