Nova Scotia opens Office of Workplace Mental Health

Office to provide services that assist workers accessing mental health and wellness supports

Nova Scotia opens Office of Workplace Mental Health
A new governmental agency to support workplace mental health in Nova Scotia opened its doors in Halifax on Oct. 3. 

The Office of Workplace Mental Health was opened by the Nova Scotia government, the General Employees Union (NSGEU) and the Public Service Commission in order to provide confidential navigation services to help employees and managers access mental health and wellness resources and supports. 

"Nova Scotia is a leader in workplace mental health and is setting a positive example for other provinces and territories," said Louise Bradley, president and CEO, Mental Health Commission of Canada. "This partnership is laying the foundation for other provinces and territories to improve psychological health and safety in their public service."

According to a statement made on the province’s website, the aim of the office is to help leaders and managers create psychologically healthy and safe workplaces.

Services will be available to all civil service employees including union (NSGEU, Canadian Union of Public Employees and Crown attorneys) and non-union employees. Three mental health navigators will be located throughout the province.

Nova Scotia was also the first province to adopt the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, which is a set of voluntary guidelines, resources and tools to help organizations promote mental health and prevent psychological harm at work.