PSAC, TBS say better mental health supports needed for employees

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A committee with members from the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat has called for greater mental health support for federal employees, acknowledging that, while there are resources available, it’s unclear how often they’re used or how effective they are.

The report released this past week, produced as part of a joint study by a committee with representatives of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) launched in October 2020, examined what mental health supports existed within the federal government. The study was headed by co-chairs from the union and the government.

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It found that the most common practices used in the 16 federal organizations involved in the study were general mental health education and training, stress management and resilience training and practices to respond to crisis.

Most support practices (68 per cent) targeted all employees, the report found, with only five per cent targeting supervisors, managers or executives.

Some departments, the report found, offered optional programs like training in handling abusive telephone calls and navigating difficult conversations.

Examples of mandatory programs in departments included annual check-ins with a mental health professional, ethics training and training for veterans experiencing anger.

“Promotion of these supports was mainly virtual, and it varied in terms of frequency,” the report said, adding that most support programs were available when needed and were offered on an ongoing basis.

More than half (63 per cent) of programs were delivered by external providers.

While the majority of programs (77 per cent) were able to report on the number of people who used them, the report said “very few support practices have been evaluated for effectiveness.”

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Acknowledging that mental health supports are not always accessed due to stigma and privacy concerns, the committee made several recommendations, including that all employees receive training about early symptoms and warning signs of mental illness and that psychological health and safety are better integrated into occupational health and safety structures, like hazard prevention programs.

Among other suggestions, it also recommended an increase in the availability of mental health supports that are tailored to users’ needs, trauma-informed and “occupationally and culturally appropriate.”

In a statement released on Oct. 30, PSAC said the joint study “shows how unions and employers can join forces to improve workplace mental health.”

“The study offers a framework for departments to improve their mental health action plans, which ultimately will benefit the entire federal workforce,” the union said.

The report found that the likelihood of employees dealing with trauma while at work differs among occupational groups. It said those at risk include border officers, mental health and social service providers, interpreters and justice workers.

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“Addressing potential risks to employees’ mental health in the workplace can be beneficial to all involved,” the report said, noting that in 2021 and 2022 mental health conditions were the leading cause of new disability claims in the public service. “From an economic perspective, addressing mental health issues, including potentially traumatic events, is also a sound financial decision.”

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