What is psychological health and safety?

What is psychological health and safety?

Psychological health comprises our ability to think, feel, and behave in a manner that enables us to perform effectively in our work environments, our personal lives, and in society at large. Psychological health problems occur on a spectrum, from common psychological difficulties such as from fatigue to severe psychological disorders.  

Psychological safety is different - it deals with the risk of injury to psychological well-being. Improving psychological safety in a work setting involves taking precautions to avert injury or danger to employee psychological health that is within the influence and responsibility of an employer.  

While psychological health and safety are deserving of equal protection, it is important to note that from a strategic perspective, taking action to ensure safety - in the sense of preventing psychological harm - should be done before promotion of health.

A psychologically healthy and safe workplace is one that promotes employees' psychological well-being and actively works to prevent harm to employee psychological health due to negligent, reckless or intentional acts.

Why is psychological health and safety important?

There are many reasons employers should assess and address the psychological health and safety of their workplace: 

  • Current and emerging legal and regulatory mandates articulate employer responsibilities in this area
  • Compelling financial incentives exist for employers to reduce costs and improve the bottom line
  • Scientific and practical evidence exists that demonstrates the impact psychosocial factors have on employee well-being.

The legal and business case

The health case

Guarding Minds at Work is based on the premise that psychosocial factors can influence psychological health in either a positive or negative direction. Each factor can act as either a risk or protection for employee well-being. 

Risk factors increase the likelihood that an individual will experience increased stress, which in turn increases the likelihood of developing or worsening a mental or physical health condition. 

Physical and mental health is the result of a complex interplay between a range of individual and environmental factors, including but not limited to: 

  • Family history of illness and disease 
  • Health behaviours such as smoking, exercise, or substance use 
  • Health risks such as exposure to harmful chemicals 
  • Genetics 
  • Personal life events, circumstances and history 
  • Access to supports such as timely healthcare or social supports 
Does work cause psychological health problems?

Work can contribute to psychological health problems in the following ways:  

  • With the exception of psychological trauma related to an extremely stressful event such as being robbed or assaulted on the job, it may be difficult to draw a conclusive link between a person's work situation and their developing a mental disorder. 
  • Work environment factors may increase the likelihood of a mental disorder, make an existing disorder worse, or impede effective treatment and rehabilitation. 
  • Work environment factors may contribute directly to psychological distress such as demoralization, depressed mood, anxiety, or burnout. Psychological distress may not reach the level of a diagnosable mental disorder, and yet be a source of considerable suffering for the employee, productivity loss for the employer, and legal consequences if work conditions are judged to have contributed to an employee's suffering and disability. 
  • A supportive work environment may help reduce the onset, severity, impact, and duration of a mental health disorder. 
  • Organizations that make the effort to identify psychosocial risks and to create a psychologically healthy work environment see benefits in productivity, sustainability, and growth. 

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Guarding Minds at Work