New program targets hard-hit tourism and hospitality sector
VANCOUVER, BC – (June 18, 2021): Tourism and hospitality employees can now register for the first level in a new training certification program that focusses on mental health, well-being and resilience skills. The program is part of the recently-launched Workplace Hub which offers tools to help address common workplace concerns such as bullying, harassment, COVID-19 exposure, coping with stress and more.
“With many British Columbians badly affected by the pandemic, the urgent need for mental health and wellness support is clear,” says Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “Today’s expansion of our BC Workplace Mental Health Hub supports tourism and hospitality workers, thanks to industry leaders and the Canadian Mental Health Association helping promote and protect employees’ and employers’ mental health.”
Online registration is open until July 2, 2021 on the Workplace Hub at www.workmentalhealthbc.ca and registrants can start the first module immediately after signing up.
The free program includes online training modules, optional webinars and access to learning coaches who will answer questions and provide support. Learning coaches will enhance the experience by ensuring participants have a guide to support them as they work through the course at their own pace. Participants should expect to spend about two to four hours per week on the program and will have 10 weeks in which to complete it.
“Since launching the Workplace Hub in partnership with the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, industry leaders and workplaces earlier this year, we’ve worked to expand the Hub to offer more for employers and employees,” says Jonny Morris, CEO of Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division (CMHA BC). “We’re excited to have a training pathway for all employees, leaders and organizations to build their knowledge and skills to help foster team members’ long-term well-being.”
The new training program was developed with the needs of people working within the tourism and hospitality in mind. Level 1: Foundational Skills aims to teach participants about mental health and how it can fluctuate over time as well as mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, disordered eating and substance use issues. They’ll also learn how to reduce stigma and start positive conversations about mental health and better recognize and address chronic stress and burnout to support their own well-being.
“The impact of COVID-19 has been exceptionally high on the tourism and hospitality industry in so many ways,” says Krista Bax, CEO of go2HR. “The external impacts are obvious and visible, but the effect on the psychological wellbeing of employees, employers and small business owners—while significant—has sometimes flown below the radar. go2HR is proud to play a role in connecting the skills, tools and resources of CMHA BC with the tourism and hospitality industry and to partner in this initiative that will help workers and employers access mental health supports.”
BC’s Workplace Hub will continue to expand its offerings in the coming months, including adding Level 2 training for managers and supervisors and Level 3 for leaders and organizational change-makers within tourism and hospitality. Programs for other sectors, such as the community social services sector, are also forthcoming. The Hub augments existing mental health supports for workers including the Care for Caregivers website and Care to Speak peer support service, as well as existing CMHA BC courses such as Understanding Addiction.
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About the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
CMHA is Canada’s most established mental health charity and the nation-wide leader and champion for mental health. CMHA helps people access the resources they need to maintain and improve mental health, build resilience, and support recovery from mental illness. Each year in BC alone, CMHA serves more than 100,000 people across the province. For mental health and addiction information and resources visit www.staging.cmha-bc.flywheelsites.com
Media Contact:
Lorna Allen
External Relations Specialist, CMHA BC Division
P: 778-858-8805
E: lorna.allen@cmha.bc.ca