Mental Wellness Resources for Employers | Thunder Bay District Health Unit

As an employer, it’s important to recognize how mental health and workplace environments impact each other. It makes good business sense to do what you can to protect and promote the psychological health of your workers.

Follow the links below for information on various topics related to employee mental health and the mental health services that are available to help when needed.

Workplace Safety and Prevention Services Mental health road map provides all the tools you need to create and implement a psychological health and safety strategy at your workplace.
Think Mental Health provides business owners with the resources needed to better understand and prevent mental health problems.
Workplace Strategies for Mental Health provides credible and evidence-based tools and resources to help with the prevention, support and management of workplace mental health issues.
Guarding Minds at Work offers resources designed to assess, protect and promote psychological health and safety in the workplace.
Mental Health Works provides a variety of capacity building workshops and resources on workplace mental health.
Healthy Minds @ Work offers information and resources to employers and employees on various topics related to workplace mental health.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) offers online courses and resources to promote healthy minds at work.
Workplace Safety North provides a variety of mental health resources including videos, articles, posters, and links to much more.
Public Services Health and Safety Association offers program planning resources to support worker well-being and decrease the risk of work-related psychological injury or illness.

Psychological health and safety in the workplace – prevention, promotion, and guidance to staged implementation (Canadian Standards Association, 2013) outlines the Standard, its voluntary guidelines, tools and resources on promoting psychological health and preventing psychological harm due to workplace factors.
Assembling the pieces – an implementation guide to the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (Canadian Standards Association, 2014) is a step-by-step guide for implementing the Standard.
Workplace Safety and Prevention Services Mental health road map provides all the tools you need to create and implement a psychological health and safety strategy at your workplace.
Have That Talk for Workplaces offers a video series highlighting the thirteen factors in the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. Each video has a facilitator's guide to help get the conversation started.
Mental Health Commission of Canada provides promising practices for implementing the Standard, testimonials, case study research project findings and implementation resources.
StressAssess Workplace Edition is an online survey tool designed for workers and managers who are interested in assessing psychosocial hazards in the workplace, to anonymously, collectively and confidently identify issues.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) offers online courses and resources to promote healthy minds at work.

Ottawa Public Health
- COVID-19 Guide for Employers
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Navigating the New Normal: A COVID-19 Supplement to CAMH’s Mental Health Playbook for Business Leaders (Tips and Strategies for Workplace Mental Health During and After COVID-19)
Public Health Sudbury and District
- Managing through COVID-19: How to support your employees’ mental health (An employer’s guide)
Canadian Human Rights Commission
- COVID-19 and Mental Health in the Workplace: A Human Rights Guide for Employees and Employers
Canadian Mental Health Association
- Returning to a Shared Workspace - A psychological toolkit for transitioning to a new normal

Workplace Strategies for Mental Health considers the costs of a psychologically unsafe workplace, the legal trends, statistics and more.
The Health Case by Mental Health Works discusses mental illness as everyone’s concern, contradictions between staff and management, dealing with stigma and more.
Guarding Minds at Work examines how compromised employee psychological health can have a range of negative effects on organizations, the positive impacts of a psychologically healthy and safe workforce and other ideas for building a business case.
Think Mental Health lists the many ways that a business’s bottom line is affected by the mental health of staff and offers The legal case for investing in workplace mental health.

Workplace Strategies for Mental Health:

Mindful Employer Canada teaches leaders practical tools and strategies that address workplace issues and improve workplace mental health.
Canadian Mental Health Association
- Mental Health Works workshops

Workplace Strategies for Mental Health provides an overview of the legal duty to accommodate and provides ideas and strategies.
Mental Health Works:
The Ontario Human Rights Commission explains the Ontario Human Rights Code and employers’ duty to accommodate

Workplace Strategies for Mental Health articles on various ways to support employees:
- Practical strategies and tools for leaders to respond to a wide range of workplace and personal concerns, like grief, trauma, burnout, dementia, impairment and substance use and suicide.
- Supporting return to work success
- Resolving conflict
- Helping employees manage change
- Supportive performance management
- Leadership Crisis Response

Addressing substance misuse in the workplace:
When an employee has a substance-related problem by Mental Health Works.
Substance Use in the Workplace by Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
Ontario Human Rights Commission Policy on Drug and Alcohol Testing
Encourage work/life balance with tips from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

Begin the conversation to build awareness and address stigma by Think Mental Health
Framework to help eliminate stigma by Workplace Strategies for Mental Health
The Working Mind education program offered by the Mental Health Commission of Canada

Not Myself Today by Partners for Mental Health

Work resilience for the self-employed by Workplace Strategies for Mental Health
Working Towards Mental Health Toolkit by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce

Workplace Strategies for Mental Health
- Union and Management Cooperation
- Union Support for Accommodation

Not Myself Today by Partners for Mental Health
Healthy Break Activities by Workplace Strategies for Mental Health

Mental Health Week an initiative of the Canadian Mental Health Association
Mental Health Commission of Canada series of 13 posters, one for each of the psychosocial factors of the National Standard, customizable for organizations to promote initiatives that support psychological health and safety in the workplace.

Canadian Mental Health Association offers workshops and training that provide information and education on mental health, mental illness and recovery
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training was developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada to improve mental health literacy and provide the skills and knowledge to help people better manage potential or developing mental health problems in themselves, a family member, a friend or a colleague. MHFA training is offered through certified instructors.
Thunder Bay Counselling offers corporate training and workshops which are available to employers to assist employee groups in building skills, increasing awareness and knowledge about issues that affect all aspects of our lives.
Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS) helps organizations build organizational readiness and improve psychological health and safety in the workplace — providing direction, managing risk, and helping lay the groundwork for improved mental health. WSPS offers three ways to help:
1. Mental Health in the Workplace: Working with the National Standard workshop series helps organizations move from awareness to readiness, enabling workplaces to implement strategies to improve psychological health and safety.
2. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a 2-day classroom-based, instructor-led training course aimed at training employees to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental disorders and provide initial help.
3. National Standard Consulting Services on needs assessments addressing workplace factors that impact mental health, gap analysis on meeting the National Standard, and mental health/National Standard program development, training and implementation.
Wellness Together Canada provides free resources for mental health and substance use support to Canadians. It is designed to be used on demand: you get to choose what you need, when you need it. Services range from basic wellness information, to one-on-one sessions with a counsellor, to participating in a community of support.

Mental health crisis? Options for getting help.

Call 911.
Go to the nearest emergency room.

Call Crisis Response in Thunder Bay: 807-346-8282
District of Thunder Bay: 1-888-269-3100
TTY: 1-888-269-3100

Visit wellnesstogether.ca – I need help now

See also: TBDHU's Mental Health Support page for additional resources.

Crisis Response Services offers mobile crisis response, crisis support residence, and 24/7 telephone services to both youth and adults who are experiencing a mental health crisis. All ages are eligible.
Thunder Bay: 807-346-8282
District of Thunder Bay: 1-888-269-3100
TTY: 1-888-269-3100

Thunder Bay Counselling provides specific counselling services at no or low cost. The walk-in counselling clinic provides immediate counselling services to individuals, couples and families on a first come, first served basis. It’s offered in partnership with Children’s Centre Thunder Bay.
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Mental Health Program provides acute care adult mental health services including: emergency services; short-term inpatient assessment; assessment, stabilization and short-term inpatient treatment; discharge planning; outpatient services; and, consultation, education, coordination, and integration with other healthcare services including with primary care providers.
North of Superior Counselling Programs is a non-profit, community based mental health and addictions agency committed to supporting healthy communities in the North of Superior District. It provides a full range of culturally responsive counselling and wellness programs to assist individuals and families.
Together All is an online peer to peer support community for mental health.
BounceBack: Reclaim your health is a free program designed to help adults and youth aged 15+ manage symptoms of depression and anxiety. It can help build skills to manage worry and anxiety, combat unhelpful thinking and become more active and assertive.
ConnexOntario operates three helplines that provide health services information for people experiencing problems with gambling, drugs or alcohol and mental illness. Helpful, supportive information and referral specialists answer all calls, emails or webchat requests 24/7. The service is free and confidential.
- Drug and Alcohol Helpline 1-800-565-8603
- Mental Health Helpline 1-866-531-2600
- Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline 1-888-230-3505

Alpha Court walk-in services: An on-call worker is available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (first come, first serve basis) to provide information and resources on mental health and addiction services, assist with completing the "Request for Services" form, assist with appropriate referrals, and connect with Alpha Court’s Day Centre
Anishnawbe Mushkiki provides its clients with services related to situational issues including day-to-day challenges and addictions, relationships, anxiety, depression, and trauma through one-on-one counselling, peer support groups, and workshops.
Beendigen provides a wide range of holistic healing services to Aboriginal women and children in the community. The team provides counselling services to women who are victims of abuse, through individual and group programming.
Dilico Anishnabek Family Care offers a range of mental health and addictions services to adult clients in the city and district of Thunder Bay.
Lakehead University Student Health and Counseling Centre offers primary health and mental health care to Lakehead University students.
NorWest Community Health Centres offers counselling services at the Thunder Bay Site and through Telemedicine Services at both Longlac and Armstrong Sites. Areas of focus are on emotional and mental health related to anxiety, depression, trauma and situational issues. Collaborative Care Model with primary care providers and referrals to community services and programs are available.
Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) provides mental health intake, screening, assessment, and treatment services; assists families to cope with their child’s mental health needs; offers information and education training sessions on mental health issues; uses contemporary and traditional interventions; provides access to additional resources if needed.
P.A.C.E. (People Advocating for Change through Empowerment Inc.) provides person-centered services to consumer/survivors with mental health lived experience.

St. Joseph’s Care Group Mental Health and Addictions Services provides treatment for individuals whose needs are best met with services available from a broad range of clinical disciplines; promotes community integration, quality of life, meaningful outcomes in life and recovery; provides comprehensive individualized care which includes assessment, treatment and follow up care
Talk 4 Healing offers culturally appropriate, free and confidential telephone counselling services to Aboriginal women at 1-855-554-HEAL
Wellness Together Canada provides free resources for mental health and substance use support to Canadians. It is designed to be used on demand: you get to choose what you need, when you need it. Services range from basic wellness information, to one-on-one sessions with a counsellor, to participating in a community of support.

The following bulletin board kits are now available. Click on the links to see what each board contains:

Board #1 - Get Real Photovoice
Board #2 - Mental Health in the Workplace Myths and Facts
Board #3 - Promoting Good Mental Health
Board #4 - Keep Stress in Check
Board #5 - Work Life Balance

Workplaces can order one or all of these kits at no charge.

Business card-sized help cards are available to workplaces. These cards list some key mental health crisis services available. There is a space on the inside to write in the contact information of an employee assistance program provider. These cards are handy to have in a staff room or on a supervisor’s desk if someone is in need of mental health support. Small acrylic card holders can also be provided.