The Working Mind

The Working Mind (TWM) is a mental health education program designed to address and promote mental health and reduce the stigma of mental illness in a workplace setting.

TWM is part of the Opening Minds initiative, managed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC).

Launched by the MHCC in 2013, TWM was developed by clinicians and peers and based on scientific research and best-practices. The Working Mind takes an evidence-based approach to developing the training materials.

TWM traces its roots to The Road To Mental Readiness (R2MR), a program developed by Department of National Defence (Canada) in 2008 in response to the increase in mental health concerns as a result of the war in Afghanistan. R2MR has been adapted for first responder services across Canada and for the general workplace in the form of TWM by the Opening Minds of the MHCC.

TWM has been adapted to fit the general workplace audience and was developed with help from the following project partners: University of Calgary, Mount Royal University, Husky Energy, and the province of Nova Scotia.

The course is offered in three versions: Employees (4 hours); Manager (8 hours); Train the Trainer (5 days).

These courses include scenario-based practical applications and custom videos of people with lived experience of mental illness, participant reference guides, and related handouts.

The program features various adaptations to accommodate various industries including: The Working Mind First Responders, The Inquiring Mind Post-Secondary, The Working Mind Sports, The Inquiring Mind Youth, The Working Mind Healthcare.

TWM’s main objectives are to reduce the stigma of mental illness and promote mental health in the workplace.

The employee version of the Working Mind is aimed to increase participants’ overall comfort level in dealing with mental illness. The goal of this 4-hour course is to provide practical knowledge of mental health and illness so participants can understand mental health/illness, recognize signs and indicators in themselves and others, reduce stigma and negative attitudes towards people with mental health problems in the workplace.

The Manager version of the Working Mind (8 hours) continues to build on topics previously learned in the employee course. In addition to the employee courses, it gives managers and supervisors the practical knowledge to support the mental health and well-being of their employees, enable the full productivity of all their employees and ensure a workplace climate that is respectful and inclusive of all employees, including those with mental health problems.

The Train the Trainer version of the Working Mind (5 days) provides participants with the knowledge and skills set to effectively facilitate both the Employee and Manager programs.

In addition to the main course content, TWM offers follow up self-study surveys with the intention of reviewing and refreshing participants’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes around key components of the program. The so-called ‘Boosters’ are available to participants who have previously taken one of the courses.

References

This article "The Working Mind" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:The Working Mind. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

---