UFred launches new Certificate program to help managers address psychological health issues in the workplace

Great-West Life bursary to cover first course tuition for up to 50 eligible applicants

FREDERICTON, May 12, 2015 /CNW/ - Managers are often the first point of contact for an employee struggling with emotional distress or mental health issues or disorders. As such, much of the onus in addressing workplace psychological health and safety falls directly on them.

The University of Fredericton (UFred) has introduced a new, fully-online Certificate in Managing Psychological Health Issues at Work to help managers understand their responsibilities and improve their skills in addressing workplace psychological health issues. The courses are developed by Dr. Joti Samra, R.Psych., an innovator in the area of psychological health and wellness, and are supported by the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), and the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC).

The UFred Certificate program is comprised of three courses. It focuses on providing managers in all industries with the skills required to effectively support individual employees experiencing emotional distress or mental health issues or disorders. The program is self-paced, allowing managers to implement knowledge gained in real time, with little interruption to their careers or personal lives. "Organizations and their employees can benefit tremendously when managers are equipped to understand and effectively address mental health issues or disorders in the workplace," said Dr. Samra. "A change in the psychological health status of an employee may or may not have to do with workplace factors. But it is still the responsibility of the employer, which oftentimes falls on the manager, to provide appropriate support."

UFred is also pleased to announce the availability of a new Great-West Life Bursary for Psychological Health and Safety Studies. The bursary will cover the tuition of 50 eligible employees of Canadian not-for-profit organizations to take UFred's introductory Basic Level psychological health and safety course, which has specific emphasis on the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. This course is a pre-requisite for those wishing to pursue the Certificate in Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, and the new Manager Certificate at UFred. The not-for-profit sector was identified for priority access, given that training and development budgets may be limited in that sector.

"Great-West has a special interest in helping Canadians achieve financial, physical and mental well-being," says Jan Belanger, Vice-President, Community Relations, Great-West Life. "Working with UFred and as a longtime supporter of Canada's charitable sector, we're pleased to help more professionals in this sector across Canada gain valuable new knowledge to improve psychological health and safety in their workplaces."

For further details, or to apply for the program or the bursary, visit www.UFred.ca/PHS

About Dr. Joti Samra

Dr. Joti Samra, R.Psych., is an innovator in the area of psychological health and wellness in the workplace. She was part of the development team for Guarding Minds @ Work: A Workplace Guide to Psychological Health and Safety, an innovative online resource to address psychosocial threats in the work environment, and was a member of the Technical Committee that developed Canada's first National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (CSA Z1003/BNQ 9700).

www.drjotisamra.com / @drjotisamra

About Great-West Life

Great-West Life, together with London Life and Canada Life, offers a broad portfolio of financial and benefit plan solutions, and serves the financial security needs of more than 12 million people across Canada. Responsible and ethical management is an intrinsic value of the companies and is essential to long-term profitability and value creation. As an Imagine Caring Company supporting the principles of corporate citizenship and benchmarks for community investment established by Imagine Canada, the companies donate a minimum of one per cent of average pre-tax profits to non-profit, charitable and community organizations each year.

About the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace

Established in 2007, the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace (the Centre) is a leading source of practical ideas, tools and resources designed to help employers with the prevention, intervention and management of workplace mental health issues. The Centre is a public resource established by The Great-West Life Assurance Company as part of their commitment to enriching the communities where they live and work.

Visit the Centre's website at www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com

About the University of Fredericton

The University of Fredericton (UFred) is a fully online Canadian University headquartered in Fredericton, New Brunswick. UFred offers certificate, diploma, and degree programs that emphasize leadership development and lifelong learning for upwardly mobile professionals. Most recently, UFred launched a Centre for Psychological Health and Safety, home to the new Certificate in Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace.

Learn more at www.UFred.ca

SOURCE University of Fredericton