Psych Health and Safety in Canada Podcast

Mental Health Awareness at Work - with Alison Butler

Episode Summary

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the support provided to a person who may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or are in a mental health crisis. Host Kim MacDonald talks with Alison Butler a workplace mental health first aid trainer who has trained hundreds of employees in workplaces in Atlantic Canada and across the country. The Mental Health Commission of Canada reports that 1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental health problem within a given year and 35% of working Canadians are suffering from burnout. While we often know a lot about physical illness, knowledge and understanding about mental health and substance use problems have not caught up. This lack of understanding leads to fear and negative attitudes towards individuals living with these problems. In this episode we explore the purpose and role of mental health first aid training in the workplace environment and how it can open the door to deeper conversations of change.