Can Workplace Stress Cause a ‘Mental Injury’?

A seminar on psychological health suggests that mental injuries exist and should be taken seriously

  • Oct 12, 2013

We’ve all heard the typical reasons one may need a sick day—the flu, a migraine, a stomach bug. But what about depression? Stress?

It may sound ludicrous at first, but a seminar held in Canada regarding psychological health suggests that overstressed and tense employees can have a “mental injury,” according to Northern Life. The seminar was held by the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce and Levert Group.

At the seminar, a group of people acted out a skit in which a boss asks an employee to get a lot of work done by morning the night before. The seminar suggested that while not a huge issue, instances such as this can cause a “mental injury,” also known as a psychological injury, such as stress, depression, anxiety, burnout, compassion fatigue and PTSD.

According to the article, Quebec and British Columbia already have a system in place for mental injuries, and it’s unclear whether or not Ontario will adopt a similar policy. Furthermore, the Canadian Standard Association (CSA) and Bell Canada released a set of voluntary guidelines regarding mental health in the workplace. These guidelines can help business owners know whether or not they are the source of mental injuries in their employees.

According to Northern Life, some of the tips given for having a “psychologically” safer workplace include keeping reasonable demands, allowing employees to voice their opinion and monitoring conflicts appropriately.

For more information, visit: http://www.northernlife.ca/news/localNews/2013/10/09-workplace-stress-sudbury.aspx

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