Transforming workplace mental health throughthe power of human connections.

1994 – Rwanda was the beginning of the rest of my life

1994 – Zaire (now DRC) / Rwanda Border area

A telling

encounter in

Halifax, Nova

Scotia

3

QUESTION #1POLL

4

Good morning!

How are you?

5

• 5

5

10

0

6

• 6

5

10

We rarely engage in the 7 to 10 zone

0

77

Adaptative

coping

Mild and reversible

distress or

functional

impairment

Clinical illnesses and

disorders requiring

concentrated medical

care

More severe,

persistent injury

or impairment

REACTING INJURED ILLHEALTHY

ClinicalClinical

Clinical

Clinical

8

RECOVERY

13

14

RECOVERY

Joined the military in 1983

Rwanda 1994

Cambodia 1996

Haiti 1997

Persian Gulf 1997

Lebanon 1997

Kuwait 1998

Diagnosed PTSD & Depression 2000

Kandahar Afghanistan 2007

Seconded to the Mental Health Commission 2010

Retired and launched MHI 2012

“Recovery is not a cure”... Still working at it...

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Mental Health

Mental IllnessStress Injuries

TRAUMA GRIEFFATIGUE

Stress Injury

MORAL

CONFLICT

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PERCEIVED BARRIERS TO CARE

Hoge et al, NEJM, 2004

38%41%

50%

59%

51%

65%

17% 18%

24%

31%

20%

31%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Don’t trust Too Embarrassing Harm to my career Perception of colleagues Perception of leaders I will be seen as weak

Medical Diagnosis (n=731) No Medical Diagnosis (n=5422)

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RISK FACTORS

Before

After

Psychiatric

History

Childhood

Abuse

Trauma

Severity

Additional

Stressors

Lack of

Social

Support

Other

Prior

Trauma

During

Gap between clinical appointments…

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RECOVERY

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OUTCOMES ARE NOT CHANGING

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SOLUTION

WORKPLACE PEER SUPPORT

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SOLUTION

WORKPLACE PEER SUPPORT

Clinical Care FriendshipPeer Support

Formal Informal

Peer Peer

Support Support

PEER SUPPORT CONTINUUM

24

Creamer et al. (2012).Guidelines for Peer Support in High-Risk Organizations: An International Consensus Study Using the Delphi Method. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 25, P.134–141.

O'Hagan, M. Cyr, C. McKee, H. Priest, R. (2010). Making the case for peer support: Report to the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Mental Health Peer Support Project Committee. Calgary: Mental Health Commission of Canada.

Provencher, Gagné & Legris. (2012). l’intégration de pairs aidants dans des équipes de suivi et de soutien dans la communauté: points de vue de divers acteurs. Rapport final de recherche (version sommaire). Université Laval.

Chinman, Young, Hassell & Davidson. (2006). Toward the Implementation of Mental Health Consumer Provider Services.

The Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 33(2), P.176-195. DOI: 10.1007/s11414-006-9009-3.

Coatsworth-Puspoky, R. Forchuk, C. Ward Griffin, C. (2006). Peer support relationships: an unexplored interpersonal process in mental health. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 13, P.490-497.

Corrigan, P.W. (2006). The impact of consumer-operated services on the empowerment and recovery of people with psychiatric disabilities. Psychiatric Services, 57, P.1493-1496.

Dumont, JM. Jones, K. (2002). Findings from a consumer/survivor defined alternative to psychiatric hospitalization. Outlook. P.4-6

Sandra, G. Resnick. Robert, A. Rosenheck. (2008). Integrating Peer-Provided Services: A Quasi-experimental Study of Recovery Orientation, Confidence, and Empowerment. Psychiatric Services. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.59.11.1307

Ochocka, J. Nelson, G. Janzen, R. Trainor, J. (2006). A longitudinal study of mental health consumer/survivor initiatives: Part III - A qualitative study of impacts on new members. Journal of Community Psychology, 34, p.273-283.

Pfeiffer, Heisler, et al. (2011). Efficacy of peer support interventions for depression: A meta-analysis. General Hospital Psychiatry, 33(1), P.29-36.

Ratzlaff, S. McDiarmid, D. Marty, D. Rapp, C. (2006). The Kansas consumer as provider program: Measuring the effects of a supported education initiative. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 29(3), P.174–182.

Trachtenberg, M. Parsonage, G. Shepherd, J. Boardman (2013). Peer support in mental health care: is it goog value for money?

2

5

Demographics

Number of employees : 1,300

(Municipal Organization – Ontario, Canada)

Date of PSP : March 2013

Number of Peer Supporters : Initially 17

Program expanded to 28 Peer Supporters in 2015

Outcomes

Reduction of STD by 30%

No change in EAP utilization

Other wellness programs increased use

Shorter length absences when sick time is taken (20% shorter)

Other wellness programs are referring cases to the program

CASE STUDIES

2

6

CASE STUDIES

Demographics

Number of employees : 4,800 with 8 bargaining agents

(Transport Sector – Canada-wide)

Date of PSP : October 2012

Number of Peer Supporters : Initially 40

Program expanded to over 90 Peer Supporters in 2019

Outcomes

Reduction of STD and LTD claims by 20%

Increase in EAP utilization from 9 to 24%

Increase in psychological services costs by 40%

Decrease in sick leave due to mental health problems.

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Tandem NOTES™Back end (management)

A responsible means to measure and manage a social support program.

Tandem™Front end (users)

A safe, secure space where Peers and Peer Supporters

connect for support.

Custom Technology to Support your Program

© Mental Health Innovations, 2019

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MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING

RETHINK TRAINING

•Start by assuming your people have the skills.

“They simply need to be reminded”

•Engage your workforce in identifying areas of greatest

concerns and work this into your approach

•Build interpersonal relationships between managers

and employees well ahead of problems

•Shape a leadership / human centric culture not a clinical

one. Do not focus your training on symptoms or the clinical narrative.

•Provide training opportunities for all NOT just managers

•Teach that listening (authentic and caring) and

relationship building is more important than solutions

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E Learning Campaign

WeCARE

wecareForyourpeople

.com

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QUESTION #2POLL

31

32

Over 3,300 individuals die from suicide every year

Some studies state numbers as high as 4,500

18

crashes

per year

www.afterthewarbook.com

www.afterthewarbook.com

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THANK YOU!