If you are in distress, you can call or text 988 at any time. If it is an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to your local emergency department.

Psychological Health and Safety Toolkit for Primary Care Teams and Training Programs

This toolkit aims to empower comprehensive primary care teams and training programs to promote psychological health and safety through a set of curated, evidence-informed resources focused on team-based activities, policies, and practices.
View Resources

What is psychological health and safety?

Psychological health is a form of well-being that allows individuals to think, feel, and behave in a manner that enables them to perform effectively in their work environments, personal lives, and in society at large (Samra et al, 2022).

Psychological safety is a condition in which people are free from threats of harm to their psychological health (MHCC, 2019).

Psychological health and safety is a way people interact with one another as well as the way working conditions and management practices are structured within the workplace (CSA, 2013).

Seven themes for workplace psychological health and safety

The resources in this toolkit are organized by seven themes, based on a clustering of the psychosocial factors identified in Canada’s National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace.

Organizational and team culture

Organizational and team culture

Workload and work-life

Workload management and work-life balance

Successful attractive female doctor or surgeon in scrubs standing with folded arms in front of an African male doctor or consultant conceptual of an expert medical team, on white

Clear leadership and expectations

Psychological protection

Protection of physical safety

Protection of physical safety

Portrait of doctor and surgeon in a hospital together

Protection from moral distress

Support for self-care

Support for psychological self-care

Resources

Browse through the list or use the advanced search filters to find the resources that best meet your needs.

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Guide/Tool/Toolkit, and Quiz/Survey Icon

PGME Information Sheet: Hidden Curriculum

An information sheet with an overview of the hidden curriculum, including its distinctions from the formal curriculum, its impacts and...

PGME Information Sheet: Hidden Curriculum

An information sheet with an overview of the hidden curriculum, including its distinctions from the formal curriculum, its impacts and importance in medical education, and its alignment with relevant accreditation standards. It also presents strategies and best practices to teach medical learners about this curriculum.

This link opens an external web page. The Canadian Health Workforce Network and the Mental Health Commission of Canada do not control the quality or omission of translations.

Author(s)/Organization(s)
Roache et al.
Tags
medical education, hidden curriculum, positive and negative impacts
Audience
Health-care educator/Trainer
Theme
Organizational and team culture, Psychological protection
Cost
Free
Format
Guide/Tool/Toolkit
Sector
Specific to healthcare
Setting
Learning environment
Identity
Not explicitly
Language
English
Guide/Tool/Toolkit, and Quiz/Survey Icon

Supporting Our Staff: A Toolkit to Promote Cultures of Civility and Respect

A practical, interactive toolkit developed by the U.K.’s National Health Service to create positive working environments that are kind, compassionate,...

Supporting Our Staff: A Toolkit to Promote Cultures of Civility and Respect

A practical, interactive toolkit developed by the U.K.’s National Health Service to create positive working environments that are kind, compassionate, and inclusive for all.

This link opens an external web page. The Canadian Health Workforce Network and the Mental Health Commission of Canada do not control the quality or omission of translations.

Author(s)/Organization(s)
NHS
Tags
civility and respect, bullying and harassment
Audience
Human resource representative, Manager/Supervisor/Director, Health worker
Theme
Organizational and team culture
Cost
Free
Format
Guide/Tool/Toolkit
Sector
Specific to healthcare
Setting
Private clinic, Community care, Home care, Online setting, Hospital, Long-term care
Identity
Men, Women, 2SLGBTQ+, Immigrant, refugee, ethnocultural, and racialized populations (IRER)
Language
English
Blog Post, and Website Icon

Health and Wellbeing Conversations 

An article on ways to implement regular conversations about health and well-being between line managers/supervisors and staff. Such conversations give...

Health and Wellbeing Conversations 

An article on ways to implement regular conversations about health and well-being between line managers/supervisors and staff. Such conversations give staff the opportunity to discuss work-related factors that affect their well-being, including workload, autonomy, relationships, and team support.

This link opens an external web page. The Canadian Health Workforce Network and the Mental Health Commission of Canada do not control the quality or omission of translations.

Author(s)/Organization(s)
National Health Service
Tags
trust building, guidance, safe, confidential
Audience
Health worker, Manager/Supervisor/Director
Theme
Organizational and team culture
Cost
Free
Format
Website
Sector
Specific to healthcare
Setting
Community care, Online setting, Hospital, Long-term care, Private clinic
Identity
Not explicitly
Language
English
Blog Post, and Website Icon

The Canadian Medical Protective Association: Leadership Essentials

An article with key information on psychological safety and its benefits, psychologically safe environments, and three steps to achieving psychological...

The Canadian Medical Protective Association: Leadership Essentials

An article with key information on psychological safety and its benefits, psychologically safe environments, and three steps to achieving psychological safety within a team: (1) Promote healthy conflict, (2) encourage speaking up, and (3) use the platinum rule. It also includes the Institute for Healthcare Improvement framework for safe, reliable, and effective care.

This link opens an external web page. The Canadian Health Workforce Network and the Mental Health Commission of Canada do not control the quality or omission of translations.

Author(s)/Organization(s)
Canadian Medical Protective Association
Tags
psychologically safe environments, psychological safety, teamwork
Audience
Health-care educator/Trainer, Health worker, Manager/Supervisor/Director
Theme
Clear leadership and expectations, Psychological protection, Protection of physical safety, Protection from moral distress, Support for psychological self-care
Cost
Free
Format
Website
Sector
Specific to primary care
Setting
Hospital, Private clinic
Identity
Not explicitly
Language
Bilingual

Disclaimer: This inventory is by no means exhaustive. The Canadian Health Workforce Network and the Mental Health Commission of Canada are unable to comment on the quality of individual programs or services. Consequently, their inclusion in this toolkit should not be considered an endorsement of particular programs or organizations.

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