New – Office of Workplace Mental Health

This new Office of Workplace Mental Health is an initiative of the NSGEU and the Public Service Commission.

It is available for members who work for the Civil Service, NS Pension Corporation, or Tourism NS.

Below is a message from Jason MacLean, President Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union and Laura Lee Langley, Commissioner, Nova Scotia Public Service Commission:

The new Office of Workplace Mental Health will help create a positive culture of mental health and wellness, help navigate employees to the resources and services they need in a confidential manner, and help leaders and managers create safe and supportive workplaces.

Mental health navigators will work with employees to identify resources and information to support their mental health and wellbeing. They will also help employees identify and address workplace factors impacting their mental health.  The navigators can also help managers build the skills and confidence to have supportive conversations with staff about mental health and wellness. The Office’s three mental health navigators are located throughout the province, so that people in all regions have access to these services.

The Office of Workplace Mental Health does not replace existing supports like the Employee and Family Assistance Program. Instead, it will complement existing programs and services already available.

Together, the NSGEU and the Nova Scotia government are already making significant progress in improving the health and well-being in the workplace. We were the first province to adopt the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s National Psychological Health and Safety Standard in the Workplace. And now, we are the first province to open an Office of Workplace Mental Health.

But there’s more to do – and the Office of Workplace Mental Health is an exciting and important step in the right direction. The more we acknowledge the role of mental health in government, the easier it will be to continue to build a workplace culture of caring and inclusion.

NSGEU and the Public Service Commission are joint sponsors of the Nova Scotia Public Service Long Term Disability Plan Trust Fund, along with the Nova Scotia Public Service Long Term Disability Plan Trust Fund, CUPE and the Crown Attorneys Association. Together, we’re proud to be taking a collaborative and proactive approach to improving our workplaces.

You can reach the Office and a navigator by calling 902-424-CARE (2273) or 1-833-389-CARE (2273). You can visit the webpage at https://novascotia.ca/office-of-workplace-mental-health/

You can also reach us by email at OWMH@novascotia.ca

For more information, please visit MyHR.