Press Release

May 25, 2009

Mississauga, Ontario – May 25, 2009 – Mental health in the workplace will be a feature topic during IAPA’s Education is the Key 2009 Health and Safety Conference & Trade Show taking place June 16 at the Lamplighter Inn, located at 591 Wellington Road in London.

Mental health in the workplace is emerging as one of the most challenging issues for employers. Statistics show that mental illness affects the lives of one in five Canadians ⁱ, most commonly presenting itself in the form of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. The effect has had a staggering impact on the workplace as every day 500,000 Canadian workers are absent from work due to mental health problems ⁱⁱ. Furthermore, mental illness costs the Canadian economy more than $50 billion each year in terms of health care and lost productivity ⁱⁱⁱ. 

Employers play an important role in recognizing and understanding psychosocial hazards and the signs of mental illness.  By providing assistance, resources, and hope for workers, employers can help to reduce the stigma attached to these conditions.  A number of sessions at Education is the Key 2009 will explore topics related to mental health and provide suggestions for both employees and employers on how to address these issues.  Examples of sessions include:

• Changing Perceptions – Depression in the Workplace   Learn about mood disorders in the workplace from someone who has experienced the debilitating effects themselves.  In 2001, Rebecca DiFilippo was hospitalized with clinical depression and struggled with a long battle back to good mental and physical health.  She now promotes the education of mood disorders in the workplace to both management and their staff.  Hear staggering workplace productivity statistics and learn from example cases of corporations experiencing the benefits of programs implemented to reduce lost production and costs. (10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.) Session led by Rebecca DiFilippo, Publisher, Moods Magazine.

• Violence Prevention – Simple Solutions   Ministry of Labour inspectors could be coming into the workplace to determine whether organizations are taking every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect workers from the risk of workplace violence.  Discover violence prevention tools and resources including a violence prevention program guide, a priority risk setting tool, and an action plan builder. (1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.) Session led by Lois Weeks, Consultant, IAPA.
  
  
• Substance Abuse in the Workplace and Alcohol/Drug Testing   Gain an overview of the impact substance abuse has in the workplace.  Topics will include how to recognize the symptoms and how colleagues/employers can help.  Also, learn more about policy development for drug and alcohol concerns and the issue of testing. (1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.) Session led by Linda Sibley, Executive Director, Addiction Services of Thames Valley.
  
  
• Morale – Make an Impact in Your Workplace   Whether a result of changing economic realities, corporate acquisitions, or personal tragedies, at one time or another, every workplace struggles through difficult times.  Discover common causes of low morale and how to minimize their negative impacts.  Remember that keeping morale high is a shared responsibility among all employees. (1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.) Session led by Andrew Harkness, Senior Strategy Advisor, Healthy Workplaces, IAPA.

Education is the Key 2009 provides an opportunity to learn from engaging keynote speakers, network with health and safety peers, and participate in 20 different sessions that will provide them with the tools and resources necessary to create and maintain a healthy workplace in today’s business world. 

View the full conference line-up by visiting http://www.iapa.ca/Main/Events/education.aspx .

Jeff McInnis (Regional Program Coordinator, Ontario Ministry of Labour) will deliver the breakfast keynote address at 8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.  He will provide delegates with an update on local Ministry of Labour inspection and enforcement strategies for 2009.  At lunch (12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.), Education is the Key welcomes keynote speaker Max Valiquette (President, Youthography), Canada’s foremost expert on youth culture and marketing.  Drawing on his many years of communicating, researching, and marketing to youth, he will explain the young Canadian to those looking to connect with them - who they are, what they need, what they want, and how they work.

The latest health and safety products, services, information, and programs will be showcased at the Education is the Key 2009 Trade Show, running from 7:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  This is a fabulous opportunity to visit face-to-face with exhibitors and discuss your company’s specific health and safety needs.  An IAPA consultant will also be on hand to help answer questions about workplace health and safety and offer tips on developing comprehensive health and safety programs.  Admission to the trade show is free with your registration fee.

Registration for Education is the Key 2009 is ongoing. Delegates who register on or before May 26 are eligible for the early bird special of $229 (plus GST). After April 29, the registration cost is $260 (plus GST). To register for this conference or to find out more information, visit www.iapa.ca or call 1-800-406-IAPA (4272).

Education is the Key 2009 is one in a series of regional conferences and trade shows organized by IAPA at various locations throughout Ontario.  IAPA’s regional conferences attract between 120 – 400 business leaders, managers, and workers from various industries and businesses from the respective surrounding area.  As a socially responsible organization, IAPA is employing carbon neutral initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint at Education is the Key 2009 and all other scheduled regional conferences.

IAPA (Industrial Accident Prevention Association) is a not-for-profit, member-driven organization operating in Ontario since 1917. Representing approximately 50,000 member firms and more than 1.5 million Ontario workers, IAPA is Canada’s leader in workplace health, safety, and employee well-being. IAPA is focused on providing industry-leading training, consulting, educational products, and informational services that meet our members’ needs and the needs of those in their communities. IAPA is also recognized as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre in Occupational Health and an International Labour Organization – CIS Collaborating Centre. IAPA is ISO 9001 certified, has been awarded the NQI PEP® Level 4 for Quality Certificate, and the Canada Awards for Excellence Gold Trophy Awards for both Quality and Healthy Workplace.

ATTENTION MEDIA:  IAPA is now accepting applications for the 2010 IAPA Russ Ramsay Media Awards for Excellence in Health and Safety Reporting.  All Ontario trade and consumer media – print (newspapers or magazines), radio, and television – distributed and broadcast in Ontario are invited to submit pieces of work focusing on workplace health and safety.  Universities and colleges are also invited to submit work in the Student Media print and radio categories.  Only work published or aired between January 1 and December 31, 2009 will be eligible.  For award consideration, all materials must be submitted to IAPA by Tuesday, February 9, 2010.

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Media Contact:

Meagan Parker
Communications & PR Specialist, IAPA
Phone: 905-614-4272 ext. 2233
E-mail: mparker@iapa.ca