Media Advisory - Voluntary Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in Canadian Workplaces

Sep 25, 2026

Media advisory announcing an upcoming voluntary national standard on psychological health and safety in Canadian workplaces. The release is scheduled for a press conference and aims to help organizations promote psychological well-being and prevent psychological harm at work. The notice highlights the scale and economic impact of mental health problems, names participating organizations including the Mental Health Commission of Canada, BNQ, and CSA Group, and provides details on speakers, timing, venue, and funding context.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Press conference details

What

Who

When

Where

Funding and partner organizations

Contact information

MEDIA ADVISORY For immediate distribution Voluntary national standard for psychological health and safety in Canadian workplaces to be released Toronto, Ontario, January 14, 2013—In any given year, one in five people in Canada experiences a mental health problem or illness, with a cost to the economy estimated to be in excess of $50 billion annually. Mental health problems and illnesses are also rated one of the top three drivers of both shortand long-term disability, typically accounting for approximately 30 per cent of these claims in Canada. To help Canadian workplaces address this, the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) and CSA Group will release a voluntary Standard focused on helping organizations promote psychological health and safety and prevent psychological harm in their workplaces. WHAT: Press conference to release new voluntary standard for psychological health and safety in the workplace WHO: Hon. Lisa Raitt, Minister of Labour, Government of Canada David Goldbloom, MD, Chair, Mental Health Commission of Canada Louise Bradley, President and CEO, Mental Health Commission of Canada George Cope, President and CEO, BCE and Bell Canada Senior representative from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Senior leadership from CSA Group and BNQ WHEN: Wednesday, January 16, 2013, at 9 a.m. ET WHERE: The MaRS Centre MaRS Discovery District MaRS Centre South Tower, Suite 100 101 College Street Toronto, Ontario The project was funded in part by the Government of Canada (through Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Health Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada), and through a financial contribution from the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace and Bell Canada. About The Mental Health Commission of Canada The Mental Health Commission of Canada is a catalyst for change. We are collaborating with hundreds of partners to change the attitudes of Canadians toward mental health problems and to improve services and support. Our goal is to help people who live with mental health problems and illnesses lead meaningful and productive lives. Together we spark change. The Mental Health Commission of Canada is funded by Health Canada. [www.mentalhealthcommission.ca](www.mentalhealthcommission.ca) About Bureau de normalisation du Québec Reporting to the Centre de recherche industrielle du Québec (CRIQ), the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) has acted as a central standardization and certification organization and disseminator of information on standards for over 50 years. Officially recognized by the Government of Québec, the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), the BNQ takes the lead in developing measures to support business, manufacturing, social and regulatory areas of interest. For more [information:](information: www.bnq.qc.ca)[ ](information: www.bnq.qc.ca)[www.bnq.qc.ca](information: www.bnq.qc.ca) About CSA Group CSA Group is an independent, not-for-profit membership association dedicated to safety, social good and sustainability. Its knowledge and expertise encompass standards development; training and advisory solutions; global testing and certification services across key business areas including hazardous locations and industrial, plumbing and construction, medical, safety and technology, appliances and gas, alternative energy, lighting and sustainability; as well as consumer product evaluation services. The CSA certification mark appears on billions of products worldwide. For more information about CSA Group [visit](visit www.csagroup.org)[ ](visit www.csagroup.org)[www.csagroup.org](visit www.csagroup.org) -30- Contact: Kyle Marr, Senior Communication Specialist, Mental Health Commission of Canada Office: (403) 385‐4050 Cell: (587) 226‐8782 [kmarr@mentalhealthcommission.ca](kmarr@m

FAQs

What is being announced in this media advisory?

A press conference to release a new voluntary standard focused on psychological health and safety in Canadian workplaces.

When and where will the press conference take place?

On Wednesday, January 16, 2013, at 9 a.m. ET at the MaRS Centre, MaRS Discovery District, Toronto, Ontario.

Who will be involved and who can be contacted for information?

Named participants include the Minister of Labour and leaders from the Mental Health Commission of Canada, as well as representatives from CSA Group and BNQ. Contact details are provided for multiple communications and corporate affairs representatives.

Sep 25, 2026

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