Communicating psychologically safe workplaces in nova scotia

Communicating Psychologically Safe Workplaces in Nova Scotia

The Effect of Nova Scotian Cultures on the Prevention of Mental Health

Disability

Figure 1. Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse Nova Scotia photo. From Jack W. Fitzwater (2015). File Peggy’s Point Lighthouse [JPEG]. Retrieved from http://www.imgwhoop.com/image/peggys-point/file-peggy-s-point-lighthouse

Reason for Research Inquiry

• “One-size-fits all” approach to communicating psychologically safe workplaces

• But…unique cultures in Nova Scotia

This led to the

research

question…


Figure 2. Map of Nova Scotia with flag. From Wikimedia Commons (2008). Nova Scotia flag map [PNG]. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nova_Scotia_flag_map.png

Research Question

In what ways do NovaScotian cultures impact the communication of psychologically safe workplaces for the prevention of mental health disability?


Figure 3. Michael de Adder Book Cover. From Michael De Adder (2015). You might be from Nova Scotia if… [JPEG]. Retrieved from http://www.rcinet.ca/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/10/de-ADDER-BOOK-COVER.jpg

The Literature: Context

• Toxic work environments have negative impacts on the mental health of employees

• Generalized lack of understanding and appreciation for the value and costs of mental health within Canada– Fastest growing cost sector for occupational disability:

psychiatric disorders (Mood Disorders Society of Canada, 2009, p. 43).

– Annual direct losses: approx. $14.4 billion (Mood Disorders Society of Canada, 2009, p. 43) to $16.6 billion (The Conference Board of Canada, 2013)

– Annual direct and indirect losses: approx. $51 billion (Lim, Jacobs, Ohinmaa, Schopflocher, & Dewa, 2008)


The Literature: Context

• Statistics show that Nova Scotia has significantly more mental health concerns than Canada on average

• Nova Scotia also faces unique mental health challenges within different regions

• The limited information available to the public highlights health care within different Nova Scotian communities, specifically highlightinga) some different social determinants of health for urban

and rural populations b) urban or rural living as defining features of the quality

and quantity of and access to health care in the province c) cautions against a “one-size-fits all” approach to health

care in the province


The Literature: Social Models of Disability Theory

Figure 4. Social models of disability visual representation. From The Kanchi Blog (2014). The social model of disability [JPEG]. Retrieved from http://www.kanchi.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/social-model.jpg


The Literature: Social Change

4 Stages of the Cycle of Social Change (Jensen and Wagoner, 2012)

Communication processes

Implementation processes

Public engagement processes

Deliberative processes


The Literature: Psychologically Safe Workplaces

• Economic benefits to disability management and psychologically safe workplaces (Dyck, 2009; Watson Wyatt Worldwide, 2007) – Improved productivity– Increased presenteeism– Increased employee retention– Increased employee attendance– Long-term cost savings for organizations


Research Method

• Data collection

–Key Informants: Disability Managers

• All with at least 10 years of experience in NS

– Semi-structured email interviews

• Data Analysis

–Deductive content analysis


Results

Themes:

1) supportive organizational environment/culture

2) mental health education

3) organizational discourse/communication

4) supportive policies, procedures, and programs

5) urban/rural access to resources in NS

6) employment industries and job mobility in NS

7) Nova Scotian attitudes/behaviours


Results

Factors consistent between research results and literature…


Results

Factors unique to research results…


Nova Scotia Urban/Rural Access to Resources


Nova Scotia Urban/Rural Access to Resources

What this means in relation to the national PSW standard…• Approaches to communication of PSWs should

anticipate that organizations may not have ability to provide large-scale mental health services in organizations or communities

• Alternatives should be considered for these populations• e.g. internet-based programs for employer

education


Nova Scotia Employment Industries and Job Mobility



Employment industries

• The national standard acknowledges that small businesses may not be able to fully follow the standard (CSA Group, BNQ, & MHCC, 2013)

– Small business is NS’s “largest employer” (CFIB, 2015)

• Employed 28.9% of total workers

• In 2010, 97.4% of businesses in NS have <50 employees

– Small businesses have less access to internal organizational health resources

– Significant factor for both urban and rural populations



Job Mobility• Lack of external job mobility • Employers may not address organizational culture

due to poor job mobility• But…if you increase cultural “job fit” through

PSWs (Furnham, 2005), you will have:• More positive mental health (e.g. lower levels of

depression and anxiety)• Higher levels of workplace productivity• Higher employee retention• Higher levels of job satisfaction


Nova Scotia Attitudes/Behaviours


Conclusions

Literature and research results support:

• Supportive organizational cultures/environments

• Improved discourse/communication

• Mental health education

• Supportive policies, programs, and procedures


Figure 4. Collaboration for solutions. From 123RF (2015). Business people collaborate to put pieces together find solution to puzzle and build startup [JPEG]. Retrieved from http://www.123rf.com/photo_11841328_business-people-collaborate-to-put-pieces-together-find-solution-to-puzzle-and-build-startup.html

Conclusions

But, in what ways do Nova Scotian cultures impact the communication of psychologically safe workplaces for the prevention of mental health disability?

– rural and urban access to resources

– employment industries and job mobility in Nova Scotia

– attitudes and behaviours about mental health in Nova Scotia

Reflecting these elements in communication will result in cultural acceptance and “buy-in” to PSWs


Recommendations: What next?

• More research into mental health within different regions

– Determine statistically significant factors

• More research linking socioeconomic factors and mental health in the workplace

• More research into cultural contexts

• PSW practices that reflect various cultures


References

Dyck, D. E. G. (2009). Disability management theory, strategy & industry practice (4th

ed.). Markham, ON: LexisNexis.

Furnham, A. (2005). The psychology of behaviour at work: The individual in the organization. Hove, East Sussex: Psychology Press.

Jensen, E., & Wagoner, B. (2012). Conclusion: Cycles of social change. In J. A. Oldmeadow, E. Jensen, & B. Wagoner (Eds.), Culture and social change: Transforming society through the power of ideas (pp. 323-338). Charlotte, N.C.: Information Age Pub.

Lim, K. L., Jacobs, P., Ohinmaa, A., Schopflocher, D., & Dewa, C. S. (2008). A new population-based measure of the economic burden of mental illness in Canada. Chronic Diseases in Canada, 28 (3), 92-8.

CSA Group, BNQ, & MHCC (2013). National Standard of Canada: Psychological health and safety in the workplace [pdf document]. Retrieved from http://www.csagroup.org/documents/codes-and-standards/publications/CAN_CSA-Z1003-13_BNQ_9700-803_2013_EN.pdf


References (2)

Mood Disorder Society of Canada (2009). Quick facts: mental illness and addiction in Canada (3rd edition). [pdf document]. Retrieved from http://www.mooddisorderscanada.ca/documents/Media%20Room/Quick%20Facts%203rd%20Edition%20Eng%20Nov%2012%2009.pdf

The Conference Board of Canada (2013). Creating an effective workplace disability management program [pdf document]. Retrieved from http://www.sunlife.ca/static/canada/Sponsor/About%20Group%20Benefits/Focus%20Update/2013/Special%20edition%20-%20October%208%20-%20Disability%20Management%20Program/CreatingAnEffectiveWorkplace_SUNLIFE_EN.PDF

Watson Wyatt Worldwide (2007). Staying@Work: Effective Presence at Work [pdf document]. Retrieved from www.watsonwyatt.com


Thank You!


Education

Communicating psychologically safe workplaces in nova scotia