What is psychological safety in a workplace context? What are psychosocial factors and hazards? What is the difference between generalized and targeted protective factors? Dr. Bill Howatt, who has supported clients in a clinical setting for over 30 years, has discovered the value of understanding workplace hazards and the levers employers and employees can pull to help employees remain in or return to the workplace. Dr. Howatt has helped clients mitigate symptom load and improve functioning by leveraging therapeutic modules and addictive behaviour interventions. He has found that focusing on workplace protective factors and developing mental fitness can help clients thrive in the workplace and reduce their risk of mental harm and relapse. Mental fitness includes employees’ experiences and their environments at work and home.

Objectives:

• Examine what defines a psychologically safe workplace
• Review protective factors’ role in mitigating mental injury and promoting mental health in the workplace context
• Discuss the development of personal mental fitness plans and the benefits of creating new habits that promote the Losada Ratio.