Psychological health and safety is an important part of how people interact with one another on a daily basis. It is part of the way working conditions and management practices are structured and the way decisions are made and communicated. While there are many factors external to the workplace that can impact psychological health and safety, the National Standard of Canada focuses on psychological health and safety aspects that are within the control, responsibility, or influence of the workplace that can affect the workforce.
A psychologically healthy and safe workplace is one that actively works to prevent harm to workers’ psychological health, including in negligent, reckless, or intentional ways, and that promotes psychological well-being. In spring 2013, a new National Standard of Canada was published by the CSA Group (CSA) and the Bureau de Normalisation du Quebec (BNQ) commissioned by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) and supported through funding by the Government of Canada (Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Health Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada), Bell Canada, and the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace. This voluntary Standard was created to help organizations recognize psychological health as part of an ongoing process of continual improvement.