The advantage of the Internet is that we now have many information sources available on almost any subject. The problem is that most of us are both short of time and don’t know who to trust for reliable information. Providing trusted information from respected leaders in mental health and business will be important.
The Mental Health @Work community site will be designed to connect a variety of constituents. In itself, it will not be a major information repository but will instead be the place to find the best source of information, resources and tools – in the form of digital resources or connection with a person. The Internet has enabled conversations on an enormous scale. Conversation, or meaningful dialogue on a subject, is an important aspect of learning. One of our objectives will be fostering more effective conversations about workplace mental health. The community site will be a place for organizational leaders to engage and understand the issues.
I’m Harold Jarche, Community Manager, for this pilot community and this is my learning journey.
My main job over the next six months (May-Oct 2009) is to:
- Synthesize existing mental health resources, one at a time, from the perspective of business (similar to the role of a journalist on behalf of Canadian business).
- Connect with CEO’s through interviews which can be put online.
- Connect to other people who are interested in or have questions about mental health in the workplace.
- Connect to relevant mental health-related online communities and provide windows on many relevant issues, such as the stigma of mental health, to organizational leaders. An example would be connecting to the Twitter feed of a proponent who “believes that people with a history of mental health problems should have the same chances and opportunities as everyone else.”
- Create a unique space (this site) that brings these various networks together, and provide unique resources and tools as necessary, focused on the needs of executives and managers.
- Add tools and resources to this database-driven site
- Establish relationships and nurture connections with other interested Canadians
- Observe, reflect, analyze & evaluate on data derived from site traffic patterns and behaviour:
- information flows
- connections, nodes and networks
- ability to engage the business community
Background:
- The MHCC is working with the Canadian Society of Training and Development (CSTD) and the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace.
- Senior organizational leaders are speaking out on videos (prepared by Great-West Life) on the need for a greater focus on workplace mental health;
- The CSTD will launch the project in October at their international meeting in Toronto and are also developing a training package to accompany the tools being developed by the MHCC WAC.
