It’s OK to not be OK. That was one of many gentle messages shared at the 2023 Workplace Mental Health Bottom Line Conference, hosted by the Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division, that SWITCH BC was honoured to sponsor this year.  

“We heard from speakers who noted that compassion, presence, community and recognition are all solutions leaders can use to support mental health in the workplace,” says Victoria Schmid, SWITCH BC CEO. “Sometimes the idea of improving psychological safety in the workplace can seem really daunting, but so much of it is about how we care for and support each other. It was inspiring to hear such frank talk about mental health, and the many supports and approaches available to help people.” 

With a theme of Learning From Each Other, the event included keynote speakers and interactive workshops to improve workplace mental health for all. Georgina Hackett, Director OHS HEU and a member of our Technical Advisory Committee, moderated one panel highlighting worker’s voices on lived experiences with physiological health and safety at work. The conference also featured the 10-year anniversary celebration of the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace.   

The team from Care to Speak provided an overview of their peer support service available to all health care workers across the system. This peer-based phone, text, and webchat service provides free and confidential support to health and social support workers in B.C. Workers can call or text 1-866-802-7337 or online chat between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. seven days a week.  

At the SWITCH BC booth, we introduced a new engagement tool called Feedback Frames. These simple tools allow us to collect anonymous feedback on different topics. For this event, we asked people how they would describe their mental and physical wellbeing, if they felt psychologically safe at work and how familiar they were with the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. 

We were also honoured to have Jennifer Whiteside, the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and an early champion of SWITCH BC, stop by the booth.  

Learn more about the work SWITCH BC is doing to support mental health in the workplace through the creation of a provincial Psychological Health and Safety Management System.