About the Centre
The Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace (the Centre) provides employers with a variety of free public resources including information, strategies, tools and initiatives as well as support for research aimed at improving workplace mental health. The Centre also reviews current research and innovative programming available in the area of workplace mental health. The straightforward and practical approaches and information we provide is how we fulfill our mandate to help turn knowledge of mental health issues into cost-effective action plans for employers in Canada.
Our website, Workplace Strategies for Mental Health, is the primary vehicle through which we make these resources available to employers and organizations who recognize that a healthier workplace can improve their bottom line.
We're dedicated to helping turn knowledge of mental health issues into cost-effective action plans for employers in Canada.
The Centre's objectives are to:
- Increase knowledge and awareness. The Centre supports the dissemination and exchange of research and other relevant information for employers across Canada.
- Help employers turn knowledge into action. The Centre works to turn current research into evidence-based strategies and tools that employers can implement in their own workplaces. We will work together with third parties who have specialized expertise to be a focal point for sharing programs, resources and services aimed at helping employers prevent and reduce the impact of mental health issues in the workplace.
A Public Resource for Employers
Our work is publicly available to all employers across Canada, regardless of size or industry. Whether we've sponsored development of a resource, collaborated with another organization, or are providing information from a third party expert, we work to make resources widely accessible through our website and other means such as forums and events that bring interested parties together to share information. Read more about some of the initiatives of the Great-West Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace.
Our information and resources are available at no charge to all employers and the public.
Building on expertise and commitment
See Centre's Commitment Recognized for more information on awards the Centre has received.
The content of this website is adapted from many sources as credited, and developed by the author, Mary Ann Baynton, MSW, RSW, with approval by Mike Schwartz, the Executive Director of the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace. The content of this site is free from any sponsor influence.
The Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace is funded by The Great-West Life Assurance Company.
Executive Director:
Mike Schwartz, Senior Vice-President, Group Benefits, Great-West Life
Mike was instrumental in the formation of the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace. He has been actively involved in efforts to better prevent or reduce the impacts of mental health issues in workplaces, and worked with the Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health. Mike is a senior executive in Great-West Life's Group Insurance Division, with responsibility for life & disability claims operations, health & dental claims and contact centre operations. Overall, Mike's operations comprise over 2,400 staff located in offices across Canada.
Program Director:
Mary Ann Baynton, of Mary Ann Baynton & Associates Consulting, is the former director of Mental Health Works, an award-winning initiative of the Canadian Mental Health Association (Ontario Division) that provides training and consulting to employers. She continues to act as a consultant to the Canadian Mental Health Association as well as all levels of government, and a diverse range of organization, unions, associations and institutions across the country. Mary Ann's expertise is in management approaches that support the healthy productivity of employees with mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. Her work includes individual return-to-work consulting, broad-based training and awareness initiatives, as well as assessment and implementation of workplace strategies to improve mental health, morale and motivation for co-workers, managers, unions and employees with mental health issues.
Liaison for Quebec and francophone communities across Canada:
Diane Miller-Bourdon is a liaison with the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health, for Quebec and francophone communities across Canada. Through speaking engagements, Diane helps organizations learn about the resources available through the Centre and steps they can take in their own organizations to improve mental health. Diane is an Organizational Health Consultant with Great-West Life where she works with employers and consultants to develop prevention, health, wellness and disability strategies. As a professional nurse, Diane brings more than 25 years of experience in disability management to her role with the Centre, including experience working with employees who struggled with mental health issues.
We welcome your input on services, information and tools that you feel may help organizations create or sustain a mentally healthier workplace. Contact us.
This website is brought to you by the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace. 