It All Starts With A Conversation
It All Starts With A Conversation
We love to talk. If we can’t do it in person face-to-face, we do it online via social media. And judging by the vast array of threads on Twitter and Facebook, we’ll talk about anything and everything … except our own mental health.
We know that mental health is important, as important as any other facet of our health. So why is it so much easier to take a “regular” first aid course than a mental health first aid course? Why are we uncomfortable even talking about it?
It’s time to have a conversation about mental health! Mega Health’s mental health workshops are an excellent first step in having that conversation.
Our informal Lunch and Learn sessions help all employees learn how mental health is defined, recognize and overcome some of the stigmas surrounding mental health, and develop non-judgmental listening skills.
What Supervisors and Managers Need to Know is an engaging and informative 3-hour workshop that teaches managers how to effectively recognize mental health related concerns, and how to implement a practical process for supporting their employees.
The 2-day Mental Health First Aid Workshop equips you with mental health crisis first aid procedures, resources, and appropriate treatments that could save your life or the life of someone close to you.
Mega Health holds Mental Health First Aid Workshops for the public every month from January to June, and from September to November in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, and for corporate clients on-site as arranged. This month’s public workshop is scheduled for November 26th and 27th at Faithlife Financial, 470 Weber St. North, in Waterloo. There are still a few spots open, so book now.
Mental health training should be seen as an investment. Companies often recognize the importance of technical and managerial training for their staff, but mental health training … not so much. They understand that if they wish to have a successful implementation of a new piece of machinery, a new business process, or a new application from IT, their staff is going to need training. But training their employees to cope with work-related stress is often overlooked. As a consequence, organizations may be costing themselves a fortune.
A report by Business Insider notes that “employees under high levels of stress cost 40% more than the average worker.” This is due in part to “health care claims, workers’ compensation claims, absenteeism, employee turnover, productivity losses, and other direct and indirect costs.”
Even organizations that recognize the value of mental health training may have difficulty fitting it into their budget. If this is the case with your organization, you may be able to receive funding from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities through the Canada-Ontario Job Grant Program.
If you can’t afford to have your entire staff out of the office for two days, consider sending one individual each month. However you arrange it, it’s a conversation well-worth having.
