Friday 3 June 2016
Tuesday 31 May 2016
Student addictions worker recounts beating with bat and pool balls
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/manitoba/beating-addictions-worker-winnipeg-1.3608795
Student addictions worker recounts beating with bat and pool balls
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/beating-addictions-worker-winnipeg-1.3608795
Wednesday 11 May 2016
Wednesday 4 May 2016
Local woman organizing injured workers support group
Local woman organizing injured workers support group
Special shout out to Kim Prince and Wes for offering support to so many people.
Special shout out to Kim Prince and Wes for offering support to so many people.
Monday 25 April 2016
Thursday 21 April 2016
Tuesday 19 April 2016
Friday 15 April 2016
Tuesday 12 April 2016
Monday 21 March 2016
Wednesday 24 February 2016
Legislative Assembly of Ontario | Bills & Lawmaking | Current Parliament | Bill 163, Supporting Ontario's First Responders Act (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder), 2016
Legislative Assembly of Ontario | Bills & Lawmaking | Current Parliament | Bill 163, Supporting Ontario's First Responders Act (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder), 2016
Ontario moving into the direction that Alberta has had in place for over 3 years. Thank you Alberta and Manitoba for creating pathways to protect workers. Paul Murphy
Ontario moving into the direction that Alberta has had in place for over 3 years. Thank you Alberta and Manitoba for creating pathways to protect workers. Paul Murphy
Tuesday 23 February 2016
Monday 22 February 2016
Tuesday 16 February 2016
Monday 15 February 2016
Globe and Mail -Mental Health 2008
From
Monday's Globe and Mail
June 22,
2008 at 10:22 PM EDT
GATINEAU,
QUE. — The day Sylvie Giasson lost her job at the National Gallery of Canada –
a victim of restructuring – it was as if a black hole opened up to swallow her.
The
Gatineau, Que., translator began stuttering and crying. The tears wouldn't
stop. She couldn't sleep. Suicidal thoughts overwhelmed her.
It took
all the energy Ms. Giasson could muster to get herself to hospital, where she
was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety
disorder. She spent seven months in the Royal Ottawa Hospital, being
treated with medication, counselling and electroconvulsive therapy. And
she endured it all virtually alone.
disorder. She spent seven months in the Royal Ottawa Hospital, being
treated with medication, counselling and electroconvulsive therapy. And
she endured it all virtually alone.
“Nobody
wants to visit a loved one in a mental hospital,” Ms. Giasson said. There were
no flowers or get-well-soon cards. No one called.
Sylvie
Giasson, a Health Canada worker in Ottawa, suffers from severe
depression/anxiety disorder. (Brigitte Bouvier for the Globe and Mail)
By the numbers
1 Rank of depression among !the leading causes of disability! in the world.
8% Percentage of workers taking medication in Canada to treat
depression and other mental-health conditions.
20.6% Percentage of workers who suffer a bout of mental illness,
most in the prime of their working lives
40% Percentage of short-. and long-term disability claims that
involve a mental-health problem.
60% Percentage drop in family income when a breadwinner is
diagnosed with mental illness.
500,000 Number of workers off sick each day in Canada with
mental-health problems.
$8.5-billion Amount that employers and!
insurers spend each year on !long-term disability claims !related to
Mental illness.
$9.3-billion Annual cost of short-term leave for mental-health
problems.
$51-billion Amount that mental illness costs the Canadian economy
each year.society's silence about mental health is deafening. When you are diagnosed, you disappear. Yet the vast majority of Canadians suffering
from mental illness – such severe conditions as depression, bipolar
disorder and schizophrenia – are not in hospital but in the community
and at work.
8% Percentage of workers taking medication in Canada to treat
depression and other mental-health conditions.
20.6% Percentage of workers who suffer a bout of mental illness,
most in the prime of their working lives
40% Percentage of short-. and long-term disability claims that
involve a mental-health problem.
60% Percentage drop in family income when a breadwinner is
diagnosed with mental illness.
500,000 Number of workers off sick each day in Canada with
mental-health problems.
$8.5-billion Amount that employers and!
insurers spend each year on !long-term disability claims !related to
Mental illness.
$9.3-billion Annual cost of short-term leave for mental-health
problems.
$51-billion Amount that mental illness costs the Canadian economy
each year.society's silence about mental health is deafening. When you are diagnosed, you disappear. Yet the vast majority of Canadians suffering
from mental illness – such severe conditions as depression, bipolar
disorder and schizophrenia – are not in hospital but in the community
and at work.
Mental
illness accounts for a stunning 40 per cent of disability claims and sick
leaves in Canada. While employees jest about “mental-health
days,” they are no joke. Every day, 500,000 Canadians are absent from
work due to psychiatric problems; the most recent estimate pegged the
annual economic burden of mental illness at a staggering $51-billion.
The World Health Organization estimates that by 2020, depression will be
the leading cause of disability on the planet.
days,” they are no joke. Every day, 500,000 Canadians are absent from
work due to psychiatric problems; the most recent estimate pegged the
annual economic burden of mental illness at a staggering $51-billion.
The World Health Organization estimates that by 2020, depression will be
the leading cause of disability on the planet.
“Depression
is a colossus,” said Bill Wilkerson, CEO of the Global Business and Economic
Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health. “It's
one of the biggest killers and one of the biggest disablers.”
one of the biggest killers and one of the biggest disablers.”
And it
carries a cruel stigma. “There's this attitude out there that if you come back
from cancer, you're a hero, but if you come back from
depression, you're damaged goods,” Mr. Wilkerson said.
depression, you're damaged goods,” Mr. Wilkerson said.
Most
people do return to work after bouts of mental illness. Yet few employers are
accommodating, and fewer still reach out to help staffers
before they descend into crisis.
before they descend into crisis.
“We can't
afford to be tossing any workers overboard,” Mr. Wilkerson said. “We have a
brain economy and we can't let all these brains go to
waste.” The situation, he added, is a “national calamity.”
waste.” The situation, he added, is a “national calamity.”
Ms.
Giasson, now 51, was one of those who clawed her way back. Doctors discovered
the combination of medications that controlled her symptoms,
including antidepressants and the Pill to deal with the violent mood
swings linked to her menstrual cycle.
including antidepressants and the Pill to deal with the violent mood
swings linked to her menstrual cycle.
She left
hospital with $35 to her name. After a stint on welfare, she found employment,
first as a temp, then doing contractual work and
finally landing a full-time government job. Since 1992, Ms. Giasson has
risen steadily through the ranks of the civil service, where she now
works in employee assistance services at Health Canada. Over that time,
she has had two bouts of severe depression, each necessitating a few
months off.
finally landing a full-time government job. Since 1992, Ms. Giasson has
risen steadily through the ranks of the civil service, where she now
works in employee assistance services at Health Canada. Over that time,
she has had two bouts of severe depression, each necessitating a few
months off.
“Depression
was not part of my career plan,” she said wryly.
While she
does not consider herself any different from workers with chronic illnesses
like diabetes or heart disease, she knows she faces
far different perceptions.
far different perceptions.
“In terms
of dealing with an individual with mental illness,” Ms. Giasson said, “we're
still in the Stone Age.”
ECONOMIC
IMPACT
There is
no doubting the scale of the problem. A poll commissioned by the Great-West
Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace found that
18 per cent of workers in Canada had, at one point, a diagnosis of
clinical depression. At any given time, about 8 per cent of those on the
job are taking drugs for a mental-health condition, and 6 per cent are
under the care of a physician.
18 per cent of workers in Canada had, at one point, a diagnosis of
clinical depression. At any given time, about 8 per cent of those on the
job are taking drugs for a mental-health condition, and 6 per cent are
under the care of a physician.
And
because mental illnesses tend to afflict people in their prime working years,
they have a huge economic impact.
The
estimated $51-billion in annual cost to Canada was the conclusion of a study by
Dr. Carolyn Dewa of the Centre for Addiction and Mental
Health in Toronto. The study estimated direct medical costs at
$5-billion, while loss of productivity due to long-term disability came
to $8.5-billion a year and short-term sick leaves rang in at
$9.3-billion annually. The balance, about $28-billion, was attributed to
“reductions in health-related quality of life” – a method used to put a
dollar figure on pain and suffering.
Health in Toronto. The study estimated direct medical costs at
$5-billion, while loss of productivity due to long-term disability came
to $8.5-billion a year and short-term sick leaves rang in at
$9.3-billion annually. The balance, about $28-billion, was attributed to
“reductions in health-related quality of life” – a method used to put a
dollar figure on pain and suffering.
Phil
Upshall, national executive director of the Mood Disorders Society of Canada,
can rhyme off these stats with alacrity. He believes the
figures are essential to understanding the scope of mental illness and
the folly of not dealing with it.
figures are essential to understanding the scope of mental illness and
the folly of not dealing with it.
“I have
to use the numbers. They're all I have. I don't have a Timmy,” Mr. Upshall
said, referring to the way causes like breast cancer and
muscular dystrophy capture the public imagination by putting a human
face on the conditions. But mental-illness sufferers are reluctant to
come forward because they fear the stigma.
muscular dystrophy capture the public imagination by putting a human
face on the conditions. But mental-illness sufferers are reluctant to
come forward because they fear the stigma.
“There's
this assumption that people will ‘go crazy' on the job,” Mr. Upshall said. “An
employer would never ask a diabetic if he expects to
slip into a diabetic coma soon. That would be unthinkable and crass. But
they ask that type of question all the time to people with mood
disorders.”
slip into a diabetic coma soon. That would be unthinkable and crass. But
they ask that type of question all the time to people with mood
disorders.”
According
to the Great-West poll, employees feel the workplace is where they are least
likely to get support. It's no wonder the majority of
those with mental-health problems – 64 per cent – keep their condition
secret from employers.
those with mental-health problems – 64 per cent – keep their condition
secret from employers.
Renea
Mohammed, a 37-year-old peer support worker at Vancouver Coastal Health, said
secrecy is a defence mechanism: “Mental illness shatters
your confidence so the last thing you want to do is tell your boss. You
don't want to be judged and you don't want to lose their trust.”
your confidence so the last thing you want to do is tell your boss. You
don't want to be judged and you don't want to lose their trust.”
Ms.
Mohammed was diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic while studying for her
master's degree in library sciences a decade ago. She attempted
suicide three times in four years and was hospitalized on numerous
occasions.
suicide three times in four years and was hospitalized on numerous
occasions.
Despite
it all, Ms. Mohammed held down several jobs as a librarian. With the help of
medication and counselling, she's now healthy and her
condition is stable. Along the way, she changed careers.
condition is stable. Along the way, she changed careers.
“If I was
still working in a library I would keep this quiet. I'm not sure everybody
believes in recovery, even intelligent, educated people,”
she said. But in the mental-health field, Ms. Mohammed says, she feels
shielded from stigmatization and believes it's important to speak out on
behalf of those who can't.
she said. But in the mental-health field, Ms. Mohammed says, she feels
shielded from stigmatization and believes it's important to speak out on
behalf of those who can't.
Michael
Paré, a family doctor and co-ordinator of the Medical Clinic for Person-Centred
Psychotherapy in Toronto, says professionals are
particularly leery about admitting they suffer from mental illness.
particularly leery about admitting they suffer from mental illness.
“My
clients are all working people,” he said. “They have really good jobs and
provide for their families. But they are also the walking
wounded.” Dr. Paré says he urges people to be discreet. “I tell them:
‘You're not keeping it secret; you're keeping it private.'”
wounded.” Dr. Paré says he urges people to be discreet. “I tell them:
‘You're not keeping it secret; you're keeping it private.'”
Still, he
has been open about his own diagnosis of depression and his suicide attempt in
university days. He's still in therapy, but not
taking medication. He can be candid because he's self-employed, he said,
but “there are still pockets of stigma in a society like medicine. It's
a paradox: The healer can't be sick.”
taking medication. He can be candid because he's self-employed, he said,
but “there are still pockets of stigma in a society like medicine. It's
a paradox: The healer can't be sick.”
Mamta
Gautam, an Ottawa psychiatrist dubbed the “doctors' doctor” because she treats
only physicians suffering from mental illness, said
the “culture of medicine perpetuates the notion of doctors as always
being healthy, capable and available.” She said physicians tend to
minimize their symptoms and continue to work at a high level; as a
result, they often seek help later. “The ability to function well is
often the last thing to be impacted,” Dr. Gautam said.
the “culture of medicine perpetuates the notion of doctors as always
being healthy, capable and available.” She said physicians tend to
minimize their symptoms and continue to work at a high level; as a
result, they often seek help later. “The ability to function well is
often the last thing to be impacted,” Dr. Gautam said.
But there
is a price. The late treatment, severity of symptoms and easy access to
potentially lethal drugs – along with the pervasive stigma in
society – means the rate of suicide among male physicians is about twice
that of the general population. Among female physicians, it is about
four times higher.
society – means the rate of suicide among male physicians is about twice
that of the general population. Among female physicians, it is about
four times higher.
UPSIDE-DOWN
LIVES
Jacqueline
Beaurivage was holidaying in Ontario's Algonquin Park in January, 2003, when an
emergency call came from one of her teenage son's
best friends.
best friends.
Her son,
she was told, was sending out goodbye notes by e-mail and seemed poised to kill
himself. Ms. Beaurivage phoned her son, and her
husband dialled police.
husband dialled police.
Her son,
Jonathan Singh, was diagnosed with severe depression. Even though Ms.
Beaurivage was not the patient, the illness turned her
personal and professional life upside down. A senior executive at CIBC,
she called her boss and said she needed time off.
personal and professional life upside down. A senior executive at CIBC,
she called her boss and said she needed time off.
“He said:
‘Take all the time you need,' and I'll never forget that,” Ms. Beaurivage
recalled.
She ended
up taking three months off work, getting educated about mental illness and
caring for Jonathan. “It was overwhelming. Every ounce of
me was invested in my son. There was no way I could work,” she said.
me was invested in my son. There was no way I could work,” she said.
But when
she did go back to the office, it was cathartic and also a positive message to
Jonathan that life was returning to normal. “Three
months off was a good investment for my employer,” Ms. Beaurivage said.
“I'm a damn loyal employee now because I experienced the human side of
CIBC.”
months off was a good investment for my employer,” Ms. Beaurivage said.
“I'm a damn loyal employee now because I experienced the human side of
CIBC.”
Mr.
Wilkerson says that, unfortunately, too many employers are short-sighted.
“We have
a knowledge economy, where the heavy lifting is being done by the brain,” he
said. “We can't treat mental illness as a secondary or
tertiary issue any more. Dealing with this issue in the workplace is
essential to our economy and our quality of life.”
tertiary issue any more. Dealing with this issue in the workplace is
essential to our economy and our quality of life.”
Wednesday 10 February 2016
Tuesday 9 February 2016
Manitoba PTSD Legislation Jan 2016
PTSD to be recognized as
work-related disease in Manitoba starting Jan. 1
Starting Jan. 1, province’s Workers Compensation
Board will ‘presume’ condition was caused by job
CBC
News Posted: Dec 22, 2015 1:03 PM CT Last Updated: Dec 22, 2015 1:03 PM CT
The
Province of Manitoba will recognize post-traumatic stress disorder as a
work-related disease starting Jan. 1. (Facebook)
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The
Province of Manitoba will recognize post-traumatic stress disorder as a
work-related disease starting Jan. 1.
It's the
first time that PTSD has been included as an occupational disease by a Workers
Compensation Board in Canada.
"When
a worker who has experienced a traumatic event on the job is diagnosed with
PTSD, the Workers Compensation Board will presume his or her condition was
caused by the job, making it much easier to access supports, treatment and
compensation," Premier Greg Selinger said in a release.
The new
bill extends coverage and benefits to all workers who are eligible for
workers compensation in Manitoba and who are diagnosed with PTSD by
medical professional.
"This
is compassionate, humane but smart legislation," said Selinger. "It
helps people suffering from PTSD -- no matter what area of work they are
in."
Selinger
said many people working in the province's public service experience extreme
stress, and the legislation will help get them support more quickly.
"It
is a well-established fact that PTSD is an illness that worsens over time if
left untreated," said Michelle Gawronsky, the president of the Manitoba
Government Employees Union -- the province's largest union.
Monday 8 February 2016
Wednesday 20 January 2016
Tuesday 19 January 2016
Tuesday 12 January 2016
Ontario Ombudsman - Make a Complaint
Ontario Ombudsman - Make a Complaint
This is your chance to offer your wisdom and knowledge regarding Ontario MOL and the Workplace Safety and Insurrance Board. We can make the system better .
This is your chance to offer your wisdom and knowledge regarding Ontario MOL and the Workplace Safety and Insurrance Board. We can make the system better .
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