MENTAL

HEALTH &
DIVERSITY
BARRIERS TO
RECRUITING, SELECTING AND RETAINING

DID YOU KNOW?

50% of Canadians would tell friends or co-workers

that they have a family member with a Mental
Illness

68% would disclose a family members diagnosis of

Diabetes and 72% for Cancer

46% of Canadians think people use the term Mental

Illness as an excuse for bad behavior

27% are fearful of being around people who suffer

from a serious Mental Illness

http://wmhp.cmhaontario.ca/workplace-mental-health-core-concepts-issues/issues-in-the-workplace-that-affect-employee-mental-health/stigma-and-discrimination

STIGMA

There

is serious stigma attached to Mental Illness

Only 25% of those diagnosed with Mental Illness

report that they experience compassion and
sympathy

CHALLENGES:

Lack

of empathy and knowledge about Mental Illness

Being diagnosed with a Mental Illness is not

something that is in a persons control
http://www.robot-hugs.com/archives/
http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/
http://wmhp.cmhaontario.ca/workplace-mental-health-core-concepts-issues/issues-in-the-workplace-that-affect-employee-mental-health/stigma-and-discrimination

OBJECTIVE

To provide education and awareness

To provide initiatives to increase the

level of diversity within the workforce

To provide some initiatives to maintain

the new levels of diversity

Callista Courtney
& Shannon Penny

BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT
Recruitment, Selection & Retention

Systemic
Limited

discrimination

employment experience

Ineffective

communication

Language
Lack

of awareness

Advertising
https://www.cmha.ca/mental-health/find-help/employment/

CREATING MENTALLY HEALTY

WORKPLACES

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7uUabeszRc

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

AS MANAGERS
1. Increase

awareness

2. Responsibility
3. Reduce
4. Build

to educate

stigma in the workplace

skills and confidence

5. Encourage
6. Assist

staff to seek treatment & support

staff

7. Monitor

and manage workloads

8. Increase

the input from employees

9. Prevent

bullying and discrimination

10.Provide

regular feedback
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bnJORm9S9E

RECRUITMENT &
SELECTION METHODS

Contact a local advocacy group

Look beyond traditional, mainstream sources

for job applicants

Interview accommodations

Advise staff

Test fairly

Respect

www.hrcouncil.ca/home.cfm
https://www.cmha.ca/mental-health/find-help/employment

RETENTION METHODS
Training

& education
Accommodation methods
Employee/employer relationship
EAP & Wellness Programs
Flexibility and inclusiveness
Adaptive technology
Be creative
Promote commitment to diversity
Exit interviews
Saks, Alan M. Haccoun, Robert R. Training Programs. Managing Performance Through Training and Development. 7 th Edition. Belcourt, Monica. Toronto. Nelson Education. 2016. Pages 405-406. Print
Dessler, Gary. Chhinzer, Nita. Cole, Nina D. The Changing Legal Emphasis Compliance and on Canadian Workplaces. Human Resources Management in Perspective. 12 th Edition. Lukach, Nicole. Toronto. Pearson. 2014.
Page 35. Print.
Dessler, Gary. Chhinzer, Nita. Cole, Nina D. Employee Benefits and Services. Human Resources Management in Perspective. 12 th Edition. Lukach, Nicole. Toronto. Pearson. 2014. Page 370. Print.
Saks, Alan M. Haccoun, Robert R. Training Programs. Managing Performance Through Training and Development. 7 th Edition. Belcourt, Monica. Toronto. Nelson Education. 2016. Pages 408. Print
Dessler, Gary. Chhinzer, Nita. Cole, Nina D. Employee Benefits and Services. Human Resources Management in Perspective. 12 th Edition. Lukach, Nicole. Toronto. Pearson. 2014. Page 374. Print.)

RESOURCES FOR
MANAGERS

CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION

HR COUNCIL OF CANADA

http://on.cme-mec.ca/download.php?file=h6z1z1ea.pdf

MINDFUL EMPLOYER

https://www.headsup.org.au

TAKE ACTION: AN HR GUIDE

www.hrcouncil.ca/home.cfm

HEADS UP

www.cmha.ca

http://mindfulemployer.ca/resources

PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT

www.pathwaystoemployment.ca

500 000 Canadians at any

given week are unable to
work due to mental health
problems

http://www.camh.ca/en/hospital/about_camh/newsroom/for_reporters/Page
s/addictionmentalhealthstatistics.aspx

Thank You!
Lindsay Mclean, Jillian Janega, Ashley Howley,
Danny Penticost