Psychological Health & Safety Certificate Program For People Leaders and Employees
AMHSA is proud to introduce a new Psychological Health & Safety e-Learning Certificate Program for leaders and employees, designed specifically to meet the demands of today’s increasingly complex workplace environment. This modular e-Learning program was developed with our strategic partner, Dr. Joti Samra and her team from MyWorkplaceHealth.
Championing Psychological Health & Safety in the Workplace Benefits Everyone
There are many compelling reasons organizations should assess and address the psychological health and safety aspects of their workplace:
- Changes in OHS legislation around psychological health and safety, workplace violence and harassment, human rights and tort law are requiring employers to become increasingly responsible for protecting employees’ psychological health and safety.
- Significant financial incentives exist for employers to reduce costs and improve their bottom line.
- Existing scientific and practical evidence demonstrates the impact psychosocial factors have on employee well-being.
Organizations that make the effort to identify psychosocial risks and to create a psychologically healthy and safe workplace see benefits in productivity, sustainability and growth.
Why Prioritize Workplace Psychological Health & Safety? Because Numbers Don’t Lie
[Source: Data from WCB-Alberta, averages across all municipal types, 2022]
228
DAYS
Average length of psychological injury claims across Alberta municipalities in 2022
$1.28
MILLION
Average cost of psychological injury claims across Alberta municipalities in 2022
4,700
DISABILITY DAYS
Average disability days for psychological injury claims across Alberta municipalities in 2022
60
DISABILITY DAYS
Average disability days per psychological injury claim across Alberta municipalities in 2022
565
CLAIMS
The number of claims WCB Alberta accepted in 2021 for psychological injuries from first responders
Building a Psychologically Healthier and Safer Workplace An Evidence-Based Learning Approach
AMHSA’s PHS e-Learning certificate program offers a comprehensive psychological health and safety solution that is informed by clinical practice. The self-paced modular learning program is flexible, efficient, engaging, interactive and practical.
The program has been developed by certified instructional designers under ISO/ANSI continuing education standards and aligned with IACET principles. It is also aligned with CSA Z1003 National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, ISO 45003 Psychological Health and Safety at Work & the US Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being.
Sign Up and Start Your Certification Journey Today!
Please note that the PHS eLearning Certificate program is only available to AMHSA Members and Associate Members only. If you are not a member, please contact us at safety@amhsa.net to get more information on how to become a member!
Share Your PHS Credentials with Digital Badges!
To help you communicate your achievements, AMHSA has partnered with Credly to provide you with digital versions of your PHS credentials as you earn them. Use our verified digital badges to showcase your achievements and validate your skills with an industry-recognized credential.
Each digital image contains verified metadata that describes your qualifications and the process required to earn them. Digital badges are secure, easy to manage, verify and share online. They provide evidence of what you have done and why it’s important. Badges can be used in email signatures or digital resumes, and on social media such as LinkedIn and Facebook.
Psychological Health & Safety for PEOPLE LEADERS Certificate Program
Ideal for front-line supervisors, operational leaders, Human Resources, Disability Management, Health & Safety, Risk Management, and Joint Worksite Committee members/professionals. This innovative program helps managers and people leaders build the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to recognize, speak to and action workplace psychological health and safety. By starting this program, managers and people leaders are on their way to creating a better work environment for their people and better mental health for themselves.
Each program learning module consists of a series of lessons that take place in a different work environment. Throughout the program, participants act as managers in these settings and use their new-found knowledge and skills to deal with a variety of people in a range of situations.
Engaging and scenario-based online activities and assessments provide examples and check understanding, while workbook activities allow participants to apply the content to their own work life.
Program Cost: $99.99 per course module (Members Only)
COURSE TOPICS
1: Champion Psychological Health & Safety
This course covers the realities of mental health in Canada and equips people leaders to defend the need to improve workplace psychological health and safety. Participants gain a better understanding of the characteristics and benefits of a psychologically healthy and safe workplace; the imperatives for championing mental health; the 13 psychosocial factors; and their role as people leaders.
LESSON HIGHLIGHTS
Lesson #1: So, What is Health?
This lesson covers the definitions of health and psychological health and explores the connection between physical and mental health.
Lesson #2: Our Current Reality
This lesson reveals some startling mental health facts and statistics and attempts to describe the ever-changing modern workplace and how it impacts our psychological health.
Lesson #3: A Psychologically Healthy & Safe Workplace
This lesson examines the positive and negative impacts of work, what it means to be a psychologically healthy and safe workplace, and some of the barriers and challenges faced by leaders in creating such a workplace.
Lesson #4: The National Standard
This lesson provides an overview of the CSA’s National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, including its history, key features, organizational responsibilities, and leader responsibilities.
Lesson #5: The Case for Mental Health
This lesson aims to provide managers and people leaders with context, facts, and imperatives that will help them make the case for investing in workplace mental health.
Lesson #6: The 13 Factors
This lesson outlines the 13 workplace psychosocial factors that can impact the psychological health and safety of employees, both positively and negatively.
This course has been Pre-Approved for 3 CPHR Alberta Continuing Professional Development Credits (CPD).
Please visit Continuing Professional Development | CPHR Alberta (cphrab.ca) for more information on their Continuing Professional Development Program and how to utilize this program for CPD hours.
2: Be a Psychologically Safe Leader
In this course, participants receive concrete ideas to enhance their leadership across five core domains: communication and collaboration; social intelligence; problem solving and conflict management; security and safety; and fairness and integrity. They also conduct a self-assessment of strengths and areas for improvement using the Psychologically Safe Leadership Assessment.
LESSON HIGHLIGHTS
Lesson #1: What is Psychologically Safe Leadership (PSL)?
This lesson provides an overview of PSL, including what it is, why it matters, your responsibilities as a people leader, and how you can assess your own PSL skills.
Lesson #2: Communication and Collaboration
This lesson explores the first of the five domains of PSL and touches on what it is, its benefits, and strategies for improving your communication and collaboration skills.
Lesson #3: Social Intelligence
This lesson explores the second of the five domains of PSL and touches on what it is, its benefits, and strategies for enhancing your own social intelligence.
Lesson #4: Problem Solving & Conflict Management
This lesson explores the third of the five domains of PSL and touches on what it is, its benefits, and strategies for better problem solving and conflict management.
Lesson #5: Security & Safety
This lesson explores the fourth of the five domains of PSL and touches on what it is, its benefits, and strategies for ensuring your team’s security and safety.
Lesson #6: Fairness & Integrity
This lesson explores the fifth of the five domains of PSL, and touches on what it is, its benefits and strategies for demonstrating fairness and integrity.
This course has been Pre-Approved for 3 CPHR Alberta Continuing Professional Development Credits (CPD).
Please visit Continuing Professional Development | CPHR Alberta (cphrab.ca) for more information on their Continuing Professional Development Program and how to utilize this program for CPD hours.
3: Enhance Emotional Intelligence & Resilience
In this course, participants learn how to enhance their psychological health, wellness, and resilience given the myriad of demands they face. They break down stress and how to manage it, learn how to create a behavioural change plan, and explore the four components of emotional intelligence.
LESSON HIGHLIGHTS
Lesson #1: Stress!
This lesson explores stress and looks at its definition, types, origins, impacts, benefits, and common causes.
Lesson #2: How to Cope with Stress
This lesson provides lots of practical, positive, and evidence-based strategies for managing and coping with stress.
Lesson #3: What is Emotional Intelligence?
This lesson explores emotional intelligence, including its four attributes and the importance of emotionally intelligent leaders and teams.
Lesson #4: Change title to How to Enhance your EQ
This lesson takes a closer look at the four attributes of emotional intelligence and ways for enhancing one’s EQ across each of these areas.
Lesson #5: How to Improve Your Resilience
This lesson explores burnout and provides strategies for enhancing one’s resilience to avoid this far too common mental health issue.
Lesson #6: How to Make a Behavioural Change
This lesson guides participants through the six steps for creating a personal behavioural change plan.
This course has been Pre-Approved for 3 CPHR Alberta Continuing Professional Development Credits (CPD).
Please visit Continuing Professional Development | CPHR Alberta (cphrab.ca) for more information on their Continuing Professional Development Program and how to utilize this program for CPD hours.
4: Manage Workplace Mental Health Issues
This course provides an overview of managing psychological health issues at work. Participants learn about the most common mental health disorders, how they impact work function, and how to identify signs that an employee is struggling. They also come away with practical, evidence-based strategies, with a focus on responding to a distressed employee, and managing workplace absences and accommodations.
LESSON HIGHLIGHTS
Lesson #1: What is the Mental Health Continuum?
This lesson explains the mental health continuum and describes some of the personal and workplace warning signs of a shift on this continuum.
Lesson #2: Signs & Impacts of Common Mental Health Issues
This lesson explores the signs, symptoms and impacts of anxiety, depression, substance misuse, and other common mental health issues, including suicide.
Lesson #3: Manager Responsibilities
This lesson reviews manager responsibilities when it comes to workplace mental health and highlights the responsibilities employees have in terms of managing their own mental health.
Lesson #4: Inviting Solutions
This lesson explores the importance of the phrase “How can I help?” and guides managers in initiating that conversation with an employee who is struggling.
Lesson #5: Intervening Early
This lesson offers five practical ways managers can intervene early when managing a workplace mental health issue.
Lesson #6: Considerations for Absences & Accommodations
This lesson highlights some of the considerations managers should have when discussing workplace absences, accommodations, and sustainable return to work.
This course has been Pre-Approved for 3 CPHR Alberta Continuing Professional Development Credits (CPD).
Please visit Continuing Professional Development | CPHR Alberta (cphrab.ca) for more information on their Continuing Professional Development Program and how to utilize this program for CPD hours.
5: Foster a Civil & Respectful Workplace
In this course, participants learn how to recognize and remove bias, engage in healthy communication, and handle difficult situations. They learn practical steps to improve civility and respect and create a more psychologically healthy and safe team.
LESSON HIGHLIGHTS
Lesson #1: What is Civility & Respect?
This lesson provides an overview of civility and respect and why it matters, as well as the importance of diversity and inclusion in a psychologically healthy and safe workplace.
Lesson #2: All About Bias
This lesson explores bias and helps leaders recognize and bust their biases to create a more civil and respectful work environment.
Lesson #3: Understanding Connection Bids
This lesson explores connection bids and the impacts of our responses to these bids on communication and interpersonal relationships.
Lesson #4: Listening & Speaking Tips
This lesson offers lots of tips for better listening and speaking, including consideration of non-verbal cues and personal communication barriers.
Lesson #5: Communication Strategies
This lesson explores four strategies for better communication: DEAR MAN for objective effectiveness, GIVE for relationship effectiveness, FAST for self-respect, and how to express respect and appreciation.
Lesson #6: How to Handle Difficult Situations
This lesson explores passive, aggressive and passive-aggressive communication and offers 12 communication tips for dealing with difficult situations.
This course has been Pre-Approved for 3 CPHR Alberta Continuing Professional Development Credits (CPD).
Please visit Continuing Professional Development | CPHR Alberta (cphrab.ca) for more information on their Continuing Professional Development Program and how to utilize this program for CPD hours.
Psychological Health & Safety for EMPLOYEES Certificate Program
Designed for employees across all levels of the organization, this program provides practical skills and strategies for staying mentally healthy and resilient, managing stress, improving communication and interpersonal relations, enhancing work-life harmony, and avoiding burnout. It also aims to destigmatize and provide participants with a deeper understanding of common mental health issues, including their signs and symptoms and how they might impact the workplace.
Program Cost: $99.99 per course module (Members Only)
COURSE TOPICS
1: Stay Mentally Healthy & Resilient
In this course, participants gain insight into the importance of psychological well-being, effectively managing stress, and self-care practices. Learners will finish the course with the tools to maintain good mental health, and tackle stress in their everyday life.
LESSON HIGHLIGHTS
Lesson #1: What is Psychological Health?
This lesson uses the WHO’s definition of psychological health to expand upon what it means to be psychologically healthy. There is a focus on mental health in Canada.
Lesson #2: Stress!
This lesson explains what stress is, the different types of stress, its origins and impacts, and how we can use stress to our advantage.
Lesson #3: How to Manage Stress
This lesson helps identify ways to manage stress through a variety of methods, including avoiding stressors, creating routine, and seeking professional advice.
Lesson #4: How to Improve Your Psychological Health
This lesson focuses on self-care and finding balance in life to ensure healthy psychological health.
2: Recognize Common Mental Health Issues
Learners gain a clear and practical understanding of psychological health, common mental health issues, their telltale signs and symptoms, and available treatment options.
LESSON HIGHLIGHTS
Lesson #1: Psychological Health
This lesson relates psychological health to common mental health issues and compares well-being to psychological illness.
Lesson #2: Common Psychological Health Issues
This lesson lists and explains familiar psychological health issues like burnout, anxiety, depression, and substance misuse. This lesson also explains suicide, and we encourage learners to practice self care and take things at their own pace in this lesson.
Lesson #3: What are the Signs and Symptoms?
This lesson will help learners be aware of the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues. Both personal and workplace warning signs are explored. This course also explores how to help someone who is suffering from a mental health issue.
Lesson #4: What are Some Treatment Options?
This lesson provides an overview of some of the most common treatment options, like CBT, therapy, medication and social support.
3: Improve Work-Life Harmony
How often does work interfere in your personal life? How often does your personal life interfere with your work?
In this module, learners gain useful skills and strategies for cultivating increased harmony, or integration, between their work and personal lives, which in turn can enhance their overall psychological well-being.
LESSON HIGHLIGHTS
Lesson 1: What is Work Life Harmony?
This lesson looks at the current realities of work-life harmony, how to differentiate between harmony and balance, applying work-life harmony, and the risk of burnout.
Lesson 2: Values and Needs
This lesson explores what exactly values and needs are, and how they impact our daily lives, decision making, and goals.
Lesson 3: How to Achieve Work-Life Harmony
This lesson gives practical examples of how to achieve work-life harmony. Learners are taught how to make conscious choices and avoid doing “half-things”. Learners are reminded of how to be realistic about finding work-life harmony, how to find flow activities and work with passion, how to prioritize relationships, and how to set boundaries while creating structure.
Lesson 4: Work-Life Harmony For You
In this lesson, specific examples of challenges to work-life harmony are explored. Topics range from how to support a workaholic, getting motivated after a vacation, minimalism and decluttering, alone time in relationships, disconnecting to connect, to sleep hygiene and shift work.
4: Enhance Your Sleep
We can all relate to the feeling of being sleep-deprived and equally to the feeling of a great night’s sleep. Sleep is a critical physiological function during which our bodies and brains rejuvenate. Science also shows that sleep is essential to our overall physical and emotional well-being.
Despite its importance, many of us don’t prioritize sleep as much as we should. One-third of working Canadians struggle with chronic sleep difficulties. In this module, learners develop knowledge and techniques to enhance their sleep.
LESSON HIGHLIGHTS
Lesson 1: The Importance of Sleep
In this lesson, learners are familiarized with the basics of healthy sleep. The importance of sleep, impacts of reduced sleep, normal sleep patterns, circadian rhythms, the stages of sleep, and factors impacting sleep are all covered.
Lesson 2: Common Sleep Problems
In this lesson, learners will explore common sleep problems like the persistent maladaptive cycle, dyssomnias, parasomnias, medical and psychiatric sleep problems, narcolepsy, jet lag, and dreams.
Lesson 3: Healthy Sleep Hygiene
There are many things that can directly affect our ability to get a good night’s sleep. This lesson will help learners identify ways they can better their sleep hygiene through minimizing stress, anxiety, and worry. Additionally, learners will explore classical conditioning, their daytime activities, diet and nutrition, bedroom environment, and bedtime routines.
Lesson 4: Other Interventions
This lesson focuses on other options to improve sleep, such as medications, melatonin, light therapy and phototherapy, CBT interventions, and the intersection of sleep and shift work.
5: Show Civility and Respect
Civility and Respect is one of the 13 psychosocial factors that are encompassed within the best practice frame of the National Standard for Psychological Health & Safety in the Workplace. However, it’s a factor that cuts across all elements to the heart of mental health.
Our relationships, from our acquaintances to our closest friends, to our colleagues, to our bosses can be pretty amazing — but also complicated. In this module, learners will get insights into civil and respectful communication and how to manage conflict effectively.
LESSON HIGHLIGHTS
Lesson 1: What is Civility and Respect?
This lesson establishes what civility, respect, diversity, and inclusion are. Learners will also come to understand bias, and how to overcome or “bust” bias.
Lesson 2: Common Communication Issues
This lesson explores why we are conflict averse, and what connection bids are. It also describes different types of communication issues, like passive communication, aggressive communication, and passive-aggressive communication.
Lesson 3: How to Improve Communication
This lesson will help learners improve their own communication skills. Assertive communication, non-verbal communication, how to become a better listener, and how to be a better speaker are all topics that aim to aid the learner become a more effective communicator.
Lesson 4: How to Manage Interpersonal Conflict
This lesson tackles the challenging topic of managing interpersonal conflict. The learner will be given tips for difficult conversations, and will learn how to say no. The learner is also offered other acronymic strategies for managing interpersonal conflict, like DEAR MAN, GIVE, and FAST.