Podcast Episode 184 - Navigating the New Normal: Tips and Strategies for Workplace Mental Health During and After COVID-19
Chris:
Welcome to CCOHS podcasts.
Whether you are going into work or you’re working from home, the COVID-19 pandemic has likely changed the way you work. In this new working environment, many workers are feeling overwhelmed; and experiencing stress and anxiety.
A report published by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health emphasises, “as we navigate the ‘new normal’ of work, one thing remains clear: Employee mental health is still one of the most important issues facing workplaces today.” And that in this ‘new normal’ employers have both the opportunity and a responsibility to lead with workers’ mental health in mind.
Today we are joined by Dr. Donna Ferguson. Dr. Ferguson is a clinical psychologist in the Work Stress and Health Program at the Centre for Mental Health and Addiction and the co-author of the report Navigating the New Normal: A COIVID-19 Supplement to CAMH’s Mental Health Playbook for Business Leaders.
Welcome and thank you for joining us Dr. Ferguson.
Dr. Ferguson:
Thank you for having me here. I appreciate this opportunity to discuss this important topic
Chris:
Dr. Ferguson, this report is a supplement to CAMH’s Mental Health Playbook for Business Leaders, what is the playbook and what’s the motivation behind for this new edition?
Dr. Ferguson:
The Mental Health Playbook for Business leaders is a resource that business leaders can use to guide them as they build mentally healthy workplaces. So, everyone can reach their full potential and also to provide a path to more effective solutions and better outcomes for employees and for businesses.
The Playbook has five powerful recommendations, which are based on the best available evidence and shaped by feedback from business leaders, as well as CAMH researchers, clinicians, and experts.
And these include creating a long-term organization-wide mental health strategy, institute mandatory mental health training for leadership, develop tailored mental health supports and prioritize and optimize your return-to-work process checklist.
The motivation behind the new edition is related to providing support during the pandemic. It has been developed to address ways that business leaders can support the psychological health and safety of employees during and after the pandemic. Particularly due to the accompanying challenges.
Chris:
So, what are some of the pandemic concerns that are causing anxiety? And what are some of the symptoms that workers may be feeling or showing?
Dr. Ferguson:
Some of these concerns that have come with along with the pandemic and continue to be concerns. I think over time our financial issues and concerns related to financial strain job loss, loss of job security, loved ones throughout the pandemic, you know, having a fear of dying or losing a loved one or getting ill. So, there's also fear of the “New Normal” or returning to what we know to be normal after the height of the pandemic. And this could mean, you know, going back to the office, a physical office, as well as fear, of a certain level of, or sorry, feeling a certain level of social isolation, which I think is still ongoing symptoms of anxiety can include panic shortness of breath, increased, heart rate, and inability to relax or feeling on edge much of the time. Not functioning as usual isolating or withdrawing from others, not sleeping, or eating well, so these are some of the Common symptoms of anxiety.
Chris:
I think that these are concerns many of us can relate to.
In your report, you provide a COVID-19 Checklist for Business Leaders. What are some of the things business leaders can do to support their employees’ psychological health and safety during and after the pandemic?
Dr. Ferguson:
That's a great question. I'm glad that you asked it. It's been challenging, so I think business leaders really can ensure that there are mental health training opportunities for leadership including resiliency workshops; and require that they be taken.
These leaders can review the organization’s benefits plan and consider including Internet based Cognitive Behavioural (ICBT) Therapy and which is shown to be very effective as well as other mental health resources; making them easy for employees to access, and ensuring the right people are in place to help employees feel supported.
Chris:
The report says that “effective business leadership and compassion are not mutually exclusive”. What does this mean?
Dr. Ferguson:
So, this means that effective business leaders can be both. You can be an effective leader and be compassionate and support the needs of your employees, which is really important.
It starts with business leaders having self-compassion. Leaders are expected to make difficult decisions that have significant impacts on people’s lives every day. It is important for business leaders to pay attention to their own mental health and practice self-compassion. This not only models these practices with employees, but it will help them to become more compassionate toward their employees.
It is also important for business leaders to be consistent in their support and not underestimate how frequently messages should be reinforced. This includes having regular check ins with their employees to clarify expectations and plans. I think this is really important.
Chris:
How does the idea of resilience fit into navigating this new normal?
Dr. Ferguson:
Great question! I mean, workplace stress is inevitable. We all experience it particularly during this pandemic. It is important for business leaders to acknowledge potential stressors and consider how employees will perceive and deal with them.
Resilience is about, you know, being able to cope with and manage stressful situations. You know, again, we know we're going to have this stress, how do you cope and manage the stress? Particularly when dealing with the pandemic and dealing with what we know as the quote-unquote “new normal”.
People don’t always know how they will navigate through challenging situations. Most employees already have coping skills which they use every day. So, encouraging relationships between colleagues and even with supervisors is really important and this can be done through cultivating compassion and respect in the workplace and improving the overall work environment.
Chris:
This is good advice. Do you have any final thoughts or takeaways that you would like to share with listeners?
Dr. Ferguson:
Yes, I think it would be helpful as we, you know, are navigating or adjusting to what we understand as the “new normal” that we understand that we are working with a new baseline and things will not be the same as before.
We need to focus on, you know, what is going right for us and focus on looking ahead. This is in addition to creating structure and taking care of our mental and physical needs. This could include exercise on a regular basis, socializing as much as possible, talking to friends and family, and even seeking professional help as needed. If things are getting worse, it's needed.
Strategies can be helpful being aware and careful of how we might be self-medicating sometimes. We might use alcohol and other substances to self-medicate. So, I think we really need to stay on top of that for our own health
Chris:
Dr. Ferguson, thank you so much for being here today to talk about how we all can navigate this ‘new normal’ of work.
Dr. Ferguson:
Thank you so much for having me. Again, it was a pleasure to be here.
Chris:
You can find a downloadable copy of Navigating the New Normal: A COIVID-19 Supplement to CAMH’s Mental Health Playbook for Business Leaders, at camh.ca.
And or more information and resources on mental health in the workplace, please visit CCOHS.ca. Thanks for listening!