b'MENTAL HEALTHLearning together aboutworkplace mental healthOntario CLRIs Early Adopters ProgramBy Scott MitchellP ersonal support workers, nurses, and other teamWhy a National Standard?members in long-term care are leaving their jobsThe National Standard describes how organizations can in astonishing numbers. Burnout is endemic. Self- take a systematic approach to improve workplace mental reported levels of depression and anxiety are rising. Homeshealth. It focuses on addressing psychosocial factorsare struggling to recruit new staff, and struggling harder tosuch as organizational culture, engagement, and workload keep their existing workforce happy, healthy and productive.managementthat may contribute directly to psychological Solutions are in short supply. distress such as demoralization, depressed mood, anxiety or burnout. Organizations that adopt the National Standard can While the Ontario government is generously fundingexperience significant benefits, including greater employee colleges to fill the pipeline with newly trained nurses andsatisfaction and engagement, decreased absenteeism, personal care workers (PSWs), leaders in long-term care arehigher productivity, fewer grievances, reduced disability faced with the challenge of retaining workers, both newrates, and less turnover.arrivals and long-term employees. What can be done to create a workplace culture that attracts new team membersLearning togetherand encourages everyone to stay? Higher wages, improvedOur work is being guided by a cross-sector Advisory benefits and more full-time positions are only pieces of Committee, including representatives from the Ministry of the puzzle. Long-Term Care, Ontario Health, all four long-term care sector associations, including OLTCA, occupational health Boosting retention through mental wellness and safety service providers, labour unions, researchers, According to a recent survey by EAP provider Morneauand mental health experts. You can find the complete list of Shepell, three-quarters of all employees say that the waymembers posted on the Ontario CLRI website at clri-ltc.ca.an organization supports their mental health is a factor in whether or not they will stay in their jobs. This is particularlyThe response to this initiative has been overwhelmingly true of younger employees.positive. During Mental Health Week in early May 2021, we launched our call for expressions of interest and received With this reality in mind, the Ontario Centres for Learning,40 applications from eligible long-term care organizations. Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI) at theRoughly half were invited to participate in phase one, the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging recently launchedEarly Adopters program. a new initiative to help leaders in long-term care protect the mental health of all team members. The WorkplaceThe Early Adopters group includes Executive Directors, Mental Health in LTC project will support homes acrossDirectors of Care, Occupational Health and Safety the province to adopt the National Standard of Canada forManagers, Human Resource Managers, Directors of Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace Recreation, Education Managers, Nurse Managers and other (National Standard). leaders, both formal and informal. The group also represents 26 LONG TERM CARE TODAY Fall/Winter 2021'