Overview
Mental illness affects everyone sooner or later – one in five people will experience a mental illness directly. Those of us who do not have a mental health concern ourselves, will have a friend, colleague, or family member who is dealing with a mental health issue.
A psychologically healthy work environment supports employee engagement, worker health and well-being, recruitment and retention, productivity, effective risk management and corporate social responsibility. The supports provided at McMaster aim to foster mental wellness in you and those you know.
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Related Events
Online Lunchtime Yoga
Employee Well-Being
Come Grow with Us: McMaster Greenhouse Tour & Plant Swap!
Employee Well-Being
The Working Mind Mental Health Training for Employees (waiting list)
Employee Well-Being, Mental Health, TWM Training
The Working Mind Mental Health Training for People Leaders (private course)
Employee Well-Being, Mental Health, TWM Training
The Working Mind Mental Health Training for People Leaders
Employee Well-Being, Mental Health, TWM Training
The Working Mind Mental Health Training for Employees
Employee Well-Being, Mental Health, TWM Training
The Working Mind Mental Health Training for People Leaders
Employee Well-Being, Mental Health, TWM Training
The Working Mind Mental Health Training for Employees
Employee Well-Being, Mental Health, TWM Training
Psychological Health & Safety
Psychological Health & Safety
At McMaster, we recognize the importance of establishing and fostering a psychologically safe, inclusive, and accessible university which promotes and supports the mental health and well-being of every student, staff and faculty member in all of its activities and creates the conditions for all to flourish. McMaster University is committed to being a psychologically healthy and safe workplace. A psychologically safe workplace has been defined by Amy Edmondson as “a belief that no one will be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes, and that the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking”.
The material provided on this website will help employees and managers understand how to foster a psychologically safe environment, where employees can ask questions, voice concerns, acknowledge mistakes, and present ideas without fear of embarrassment, rejection or punishment. Numerous studies have shown that the presence of psychological safety amongst a team creates a stronger sense of belonging, boosts employee engagement, and drives creativity, innovation and team efficiency. This leads to improvements in communication and collaboration, the ability to recruit and retain talent, better processes, and a reduction in health & safety issues and absenteeism.
CULTURE OF TRUST SPECTRUM
To help leaders understand how much performance is fueled by trust, Great Place to Work has developed a Spectrum to assess primary types of culture for your team.
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Culture of Trust More
In this work environment, trust fuels performance and leads to sustainable benefits for the team.
Culture of Comfort More
Employees and leaders consider one another friends and family and many employees have been with the company for a long time.
Culture at Risk More
In this environment, both trust and performance are at all-time lows.
Culture of Burnout More
In this environment, performance is greatly valued, but trust is not seen as essential to success.
9 TIPS TO CREATE PSYCHOLOGICALLY SAFE AND TRUSTING WORK ENVIRONMENTS
More Strategies to Create Psychologically Safe Teams
The book “The Psychological Safety Playbook: Lead More Powerfully by Being More Human”, written by Karolin Helbig and Minette Norman, breaks down 5 key concepts for establishing a psychologically safe environment within your teams, and provides tangible tips within each concept for you to take action. If you’re interested in learning more about doing this, it’s strongly recommended that you read the book, but we’ve provided the summaries of each of their concepts here to help you get started:
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Resources for Psychological Health & Safety Learn More
Read, watch and learn more about psychological health and safety by reviewing these curated resources.
Supporting Faculty and Staff in Distress
Responding with Respect 
Everyone plays an important role in creating healthy and respectful work environments. The 3 R’s (Recognize, Respond, Refer) are a tool we can use to provide support and guide respectful communication.
The Working Mind Mental Health Training
| The Working Mind is an evidence-based program designed to promote mental health and reduce stigma around mental illness in the workplace. This training directly supports our shared purpose of promoting and contributing to a healthy and safe community at McMaster University. |  |
The Working Mind (TWM) was developed to initiate a shift in the way you think, act, and feel about mental health.
It was designed to provide practical knowledge and skills to address mental health and mental illness in the workplace. It is intended for employees as well as managers, supervisors and team leads who manage and support teams.
Three Core Modules offer the same foundational content to both employee and people leader participants. They focus on increasing self-awareness and taking care of your own mental health. The Module for people leaders offers leadership-specific content and focuses on helping leaders support their teams’ mental health. People leaders will complete the three core modules and the leader-specific module.
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Module 1: Mental Health & Stigma
Participants will explore mental health concepts and the effects of stigma.
Module 2: The Mental Health Continuum
The Mental Health Continuum will be introduced in this module and participants will learn to use this specialized tool to monitor mental health and foster open discussions.
Module 3: Stress & Resilience
The impacts of stress on mental health will be discussed and participants will be introduced to The Big 4 Coping Strategies – simple, but proven tools they can use to build resilience and manage stress.
Module 4: Supporting Your Team (People Leaders Only)
This module focuses on strategies for people leaders, to support their own and their team members’ mental well-being.
Course Objectives
At the end of this course, participants will be better able to:
- Define basic concepts related to mental health and mental illness
- Recognize the impact of stigma and discuss how to reduce stigma and other barriers to care in the workplace
- Recognize and keep track of changes in your mental health and well-being, and know when to take appropriate actions
- Have conversations about mental health and mental illness with colleagues, friends and family members
- Identify and practice coping strategies to manage stress and remain resilient
- Identify and use available resources to support self and others
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**NEW** Now accepting requests for team training Request training or ask a question
What can The Working Mind training provide for your team?
- awareness and understanding of the signs of good, declining, and poor mental health in others, and self
- cultivation of a safe, supportive environment where mental health can be discussed openly and respectfully
- development of a shared language to foster open dialogue between colleagues and within teams
- improved individual resilience through the practice of coping strategies
Private online training sessions are now available for groups with 8 – 15 employees.
Upcoming Courses
The Working Mind Mental Health Training for Employees (waiting list)
Employee Well-Being, Mental Health, TWM Training
The Working Mind Mental Health Training for People Leaders (private course)
Employee Well-Being, Mental Health, TWM Training
The Working Mind Mental Health Training for People Leaders
Employee Well-Being, Mental Health, TWM Training
The Working Mind Mental Health Training for Employees
Employee Well-Being, Mental Health, TWM Training
The Working Mind Mental Health Training for People Leaders
Employee Well-Being, Mental Health, TWM Training
The Working Mind Mental Health Training for Employees
Employee Well-Being, Mental Health, TWM Training
Cost & Cancellation
In response to recommendations from McMaster’s Mental Health Task Force, this program has been championed, implemented and administered by Human Resources Services. We are grateful for the collaboration and strong support from our valued campus partners, including a financial contribution from the McMaster Okanagan Office of Health & Well-being which helped to fund initial training for some of our certified facilitators.
This program is available at no cost to McMaster staff, faculty and leaders.
Those who cancel their registration within seven calendar days or less of the program start date, or who miss more than 30 minutes of the course and cannot be certified, will have an administrative fee ($100) billed to their department. A minimum number of participants is required for the course to take place and may be rescheduled if there is insufficient attendance.
Meet our Course Facilitators
All McMaster facilitators of The Working Mind courses are certified to teach through the Mental Health Commission of Canada – Opening Minds. Minimum standards must be met each year to maintain certification. We thank each and every one of our facilitators for their time, expertise, and commitment to supporting mental health in the workplace.
- Lynn Armstrong, Administrator, McMaster Okanagan Office of Health & Well-being
- Sarah Barrett, HR Strategic Partner, Athletics & Recreation and Student Accessibility Services (on leave)
- Emma Bruce, Research Coordinator, McMaster Okanagan Office of Health & Well-being
- Rachael Byrne, Occupational Health Nurse, Human Resources Services
- Kate Coleman, Sr. HR Strategic Partner, DeGroote School of Business
- Sarah Cumin, Director of Administration, Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences
- Cara-Jane Dempsey, Faculty Leadership & Development Coordinator, Deputy Provost Office
- Karli Dillane, Program Coordinator, Workplace Health & Well-being Strategies, Human Resources Services
- Deb Garland, Manager, Workplace Health & Well-being Strategies, Human Resources Services
- Gillian Gibbons, Occupational Health Nurse, Human Resources Services
- Lisa Hunt, Lead, Organizational Talent and Employee Experience, Human Resources Services
- Natasa Javni, HR Strategic Partner, Faculty of Science
- Amy Komocsi, HR Coordinator, Pediatrics
- Caitlin MacLean-Schmid, HR Partner, Office of the Registrar
- Monica Matta, HR Partner, University Advancement
- Meaghan Maynard, Varsity Athletic Therapist, Athletics & Recreation
- Chris Nicol, Sr. HR Strategic Partner, University Libraries
- Adam Palmer, Safety Manager, Faculty of Health Sciences Safety Office
- Suzanne Prashad, Sr. HR Strategic Partner, Real Estate, Ancillary Operations & Partnerships
- Khadijeh Rakie, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Specialist, DeGroote School of Business (on leave)
- Sarah Sullivan, Academic Department Manager, Faculty of Engineering
- Samantha Thompson, Sr. HR Strategic Partner, Surgery
Contact Us
Workplace Health & Well-being
Workplace Health & Well-being
Workplace Health & Well-being
Workplace Health & Well-being
Workplace Health & Well-being
Unmasking Mental Health
Mental Health Week, an annual initiative by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), is set to take place from May 5 to May 11, 2025. This year’s theme, “Unmasking Mental Health,” aims to shed light on the hidden struggles faced by individuals living with mental health challenges and substance use disorders. The theme emphasizes the importance of breaking down stigma and encouraging open, honest conversations about mental health. By unmasking the realities of mental health, CMHA hopes to foster deeper connections and understanding, creating a ripple effect of courage and empathy across Canada.
Throughout the week, CMHA branches across the country will host various events, workshops, and activities designed to educate and engage communities. Highlights include free mental health training sessions, community tradeshows, and public discussions aimed at empowering individuals and organizations to support mental wellness.
For more information about Mental Health and Mental Health week, please review our resources.
Unmasking Mental Health: CMHA's 2025 Mental Health Week Learn More
Source: Canadian Mental Health Association
How to Support Your Team Through Mental Health Challenges Learn More
Source: Telus Health
Information Technology Security Learn More
Every member of the McMaster community has a role to play in protecting the information we access and ensuring everyone’s privacy – including our own.
National Health Promotion Days in April & May Learn More
Source: Canada.ca
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The Working Mind Mental Health Training Learn More
| The Working Mind is an evidence-based program designed to promote mental health and reduce stigma around mental illness in the workplace. This training directly supports our shared purpose of promoting and contributing to a healthy and safe community at McMaster University. |
Professor Hippo on Campus Learn More
The core Professor Hippo-on-Campus program consists of 8 modules that teach staff and faculty at McMaster about student mental health and how to support students in a way that suits their role, whether it be as an academic advisor or as a professor. The program will also teach how to use the Responding to Students in Distress and Difficulty (RSDD) protocol.
Employee Family and Assistance Program Learn More
McMaster University is proud to offer the extended benefit of an Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) with our partner, Telus Health.
Upcoming Employee Well-being Events
Online Lunchtime Yoga
Employee Well-Being
Come Grow with Us: McMaster Greenhouse Tour & Plant Swap!
Employee Well-Being
The Working Mind Mental Health Training for Employees (waiting list)
Employee Well-Being, Mental Health, TWM Training
The Working Mind Mental Health Training for People Leaders (private course)
Employee Well-Being, Mental Health, TWM Training
The Working Mind Mental Health Training for People Leaders
Employee Well-Being, Mental Health, TWM Training
The Working Mind Mental Health Training for Employees
Employee Well-Being, Mental Health, TWM Training
The Working Mind Mental Health Training for People Leaders
Employee Well-Being, Mental Health, TWM Training
The Working Mind Mental Health Training for Employees
Employee Well-Being, Mental Health, TWM Training
Learn More About Your Well-Being
Workplace Health & Well-being Contacts
Karli Dillane
Program Coordinator, Workplace Health & Well-being