title: Opportunities abound to improve mental health and psychological safety in the workplace.
abstract: This commentary provides a brief synopsis of the views expressed by the authors of the invited essay "The Business Case," Sari Sairanen, Deanna Matzanke and Doug Smeall. It then discusses the authors' views in light of the Mental Health Commission's framework for a Mental Health Strategy for Canada, titled Toward Recovery and Well-Being, and Dr. Martin Shain's two reports to the Mental Health Commission of Canada - Stress at Work, Mental Injury and the Law in Canada and Tracking the Perfect Legal Storm. The initiatives discussed in the lead paper are then compared with a 2009 consensus statement generated at a forum co-hosted by the Mental Health Commission and the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace. The consensus statement reflects the recommendation of the forum's 40 participants that a Canadian national standard for psychological health and safety in the workplace should be developed.
authors.affiliation: MD, MSc, DOHS, FRCPC, FCBOM, CRSP, Chairperson, Workforce Advisory Committee, Mental Health Commission of Canada, Consultant, Workplace Health, Safety and Environment.
authors.forename: Ian M F
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.affiliation: PhD, MA, BA, Director, Health System Financing and Transformation, Canadian Health Services Research Foundation.
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mulvale
authors.affiliation: PhD, MSc, BScN, Workplace/Workforce Research and Policy Analyst, Mental Health Commission of Canada.
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: GermAnn
authors.affiliation: MSW, RSW, Consultant, Workplace Mental Health, MaryAnn Baynton and Associates.
authors.forename: MaryAnn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baynton
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D008603:Mental Health / Q000592:standards*; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000592:standards*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D017132:Workplace