Thank You For Attending Our 2nd Annual We’re Only Human Conference!

Building Mental Health into Operations: Why Programs Alone Are Not Enough 

This session will start the conversation about the importance of building mental health into the daily operations of organizations and will discuss reasons to adopt a systems approach, meeting the needs of the organization, the value of investment & strategy implementation.

Key Takeaways: 

• Why a systems approach to workplace mental health is needed
• Prevention vs Reaction: Which works better?
• Why programs alone are not enough
• How chronic stress can impact mental health
• Key workplace factors and recommendations

About Tiana: Tiana is an enthusiastic mental health advocate with a passion for turning systems knowledge into real-world change. Through her extensive work with judicial systems, human resources, and workplace psychological health and safety, she had dedicated her career to improving mental health at every level and empowering others to do the same.

Indigenous Engagement

Indigenous engagement can be very broad and often times overwhelming which can lead to delayed progress in your organization. This session will give you high-level tools and strategies that can help further your Indigenous engagement efforts. Nick will be sharing how to audit what you may already be doing in your organization with clear guidelines on how to begin your Indigenous Engagement Strategy. Having a good understanding of Canada’s colonial policies that have oppressed Indigenous people will help you as you are trying to work effectively with Indigenous people. The tools he will share can assist you and your organization as you look to build long-lasting mutually beneficial relationships with First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities.

About Nick: Nick is a proud nêhiyaw man and father from the Waterhen Lake First Nation in Treaty 6 Territory in Saskatchewan. He is passionate about preserving Indigenous languages and culture and believes that education and sharing Indigenous history in our schools, businesses, and homes is imperative to bridging the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities so we can all connect, prosper and heal together.

Etchu is a Bounce Back Youth Support worker w/ CMHA SK

Youth Engagement with Wellness Initiatives: How Do You Get Youth Talking About Mental Health? 

Rebecca’s portion of the session will focus on the Mentally Safe Minecraft Server, what inspired it, and how it can be used for player wellness.

Etchu will discuss some of the engagement challenges and solutions to participant engagement when doing Living Life to the Full for youth, and the importance of using technology fully while setting up guidelines.

About Rebecca: Rebecca completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology and Social Work and is currently working on her Master’s as a graduate student. Rebecca has 20+ years of frontline experience with seniors, at-risk youth, children, & families. She takes calls from people looking for help, is working on a number of collaborative research projects, has spoken and presented to audiences both locally & Nationally regarding a number of mental health issues, and advocates for accessible mental health services for all.

About Etchu: Etchu completed his undergraduate studies in Social Work. He currently facilitates mental wellness sessions for youth and adults; and responds to calls from individuals who need help finding additional mental health resources within the community, under the Youth Support Programming and systems navigation umbrella at CMHA-Sask. 

Cultivating Resiliency 

In this session, participants will learn to identify stressors and assess their resilience strengths. Individuals will learn how to decrease their stress levels, engage in play, combat negative thinking, and understand the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.

About Elaina: Elaina Guilmette’s (Ph.D.) passion is to equip individuals of all ages and abilities with the knowledge, skills, and tools that will help them enhance resiliency, increase self-awareness, and strengthen emotional intelligence. As a mental health advocate, she extensively studied and developed curricula to cultivate learning experiences that are empowering, relevant, and meaningful to one’s personal mental health and well-being. Elaina provides education, training, school, and workplace wellness, to help individuals navigate mental health and well-being. 

Psychological Risk Factors in the Workplace – Understanding the 13 Psychosocial Factors 

Psychological hazards are in every organization. Knowing the psychosocial factors is a great first step in fostering a mentally healthy workplace. Question: Do your employees feel like they are treated fairly at work? Is recognition given publicly and criticism provided privately? Does your organization offer a work-life balance? For a discussion on all of the 13 psychosocial factors in the workplace, join me to learn more about how you can make a change in your organization.

About Shikara: As a Safety Advisor, Shikara works closely with employers in the hospitality and community service sectors within SK, helping them build safety management systems, offering risk-based training, safety evaluations & consultation. As a Senior Advisor, Shikara is actively involved in leading programs and projects, mentoring and training. As a Certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor, she is uniquely qualified to assist employers in updating their current safety management systems to be aligned with the CSA Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. Shikara holds a diploma in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from SIAST Kelsey Campus and holds a national designation as a Tourism Certified Professional (TCP) from Saskatchewan Tourism Education Council. In 2019 she began her Occupational Health and Safety Certification program with the University of New Brunswick.

Betting on Mental Health: The Impact of Problem Gambling on Gamblers & Their Families 

Problem Gambling is often referred to as a ‘hidden’ addiction. Many people are unaware of the deep and profound harm gambling can cause individuals and their families. This session will help provide information on what gambling is, how to spot the warning signs of a problem, and how/where to get support, whether you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling problem.

About Nicole: Nicole is the Central Coordinator for the Gambling Awareness Program. For the past three years, she has worked with students, community organizations, and professionals to educate the residents of Saskatchewan about responsible gambling and the harms caused by problem gambling. Prior to her role with the Gambling Awareness Program, Nicole attended the University of Ottawa (2019) and received her Master of Arts in International Development with a specialization in Community Health.