Businesses across Ottawa of all shapes and sizes have been affected by mental health and substance health issues. Having safe and fulfilling workplaces are a key part of any healthy community and knowing how to respond or where to turn for help can be a challenge for many.
That is why Ottawa Public Health, in consultation with the Ottawa Board of Trade, business improvement areas, and community associations, has launched a mental health and substance use health Business Support Toolkit.
The toolkit features a mix of practical tools and guides, along with learning and development opportunities on how to handle mental health and substance use health issues in the workplace.
Check it out at: OttawaPublicHealth.ca/BusinessToolkit
Ottawa Public Health has just launched its mental health and substance use health Business Support Toolkit.
The virtual Business Support Toolkit provides easy access to the following supports:
The effects associated with mental health and substance use challenges can be felt in many ways on businesses, staff, and customers. OPH has consistently heard about the difficulty businesses face when they want to help a colleague or customer, but they are unsure who to call.
Made in collaboration with the Ottawa Police Service and members of the business community, the Who to Call Poster is a quick reference guide for businesses seeking resources for community health and safety concerns. Businesses can download and print the poster to keep it in a helpful place for employees.
Find Your Way Community Resource Guide
The Find Your Way Community Resource Guide includes a fulsome list of contact information for organizations such as drug treatment centres, crisis lines, shelters, locations to pick up harm reduction supplies, as well as information on other community support agencies.
Having and knowing how to use a Naloxone kit in your business could help save the life of someone experiencing an overdose.
In Ontario, naloxone is available for free through various programs. It is available to people who could be at risk of an overdose and to people who could help someone who is overdosing. When you get your kit, you will also receive training on overdose prevention, recognizing an overdose and how to respond.
Learning and Development Opportunities
The toolkit features a number of self-guided, OPH developed, online training opportunities to provide business owners and staff with the knowledge needed to handle some of the challenges of assisting someone who may be experiencing a substance use or mental health issue.
The toolkit provides the following trainings:
· Overdose Prevention and Response (including how to administer Naloxone)
· Party Safer
· Stigma: How You Can Impact Change
Disposing of Improperly Discarded Needles
Finding an improperly discarded needle in or near your workspace can be distressing. To promote community safety, OPH, along with many City and community partners, has implemented a variety of measures to provide safe options for disposing of drug paraphernalia and addressing items that have been improperly discarded in both public and private settings.
Have THAT Talk – For Workplaces
The “have THAT talk” series was developed to raise awareness about the importance of mental health in all areas of our lives. Everyone can take action to promote mental health where we live, work and play. The “have THAT talk” resource is a series of videos and activity guides to learn how you can take action to reduce stigma, increase support, and encourage people to get help sooner.
The “have THAT talk” series features specific resources for workplaces through a series of whiteboard animation videos on the 13 factors in the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. Each of the videos has a facilitator’s guide to help get the conversation started. Let’s keep the conversation going about mental health.
How OPH is working to improve mental health and substance use health and well-being in our community
OPH is one of many organizations with roles in addressing mental health and substance use. OPH’s foundational task is monitoring and evaluating health status and impacts to help inform policy makers and community and health partners in their work. OPH also helps to convene partners and promote coordination. As well, OPH works to provide partners and the public with timely access to information, communications and alerts about emerging trends and issues.
A key part of OPH’s work is prevention of harm by supporting and fostering resilient communities that support children and youth. OPH’s training to reduce stigma and harm reduction strategies that engage people who use drugs, are activities that can result in more people linked to care and treatment. Lastly, OPH coordinates the Ontario Naloxone Program locally, and protects the community through programs such as needle retrieval and disposal.