Outstanding Women on the Frontlines: Carolyn Campbell
The Tema Foundation is proud to kick off International Women’s week by highlighting some of the phenomenal, driven and passionate women working towards healthier mental health. Welcome to our second year of our Outstanding Women on the Frontlines Series!
Meet Carolyn Campbell, a registered Occupational Therapist by trade whose experience in homecare launched her interest in mental health. Carolyn highlighted her early years in the industry, “The outcomes of social determinants of health and equity could not have been made more apparent to me than working with people in the environments in which they lived their lives.”
Now the Director at the Office of Workplace Mental Health in Nova Scotia, Carolyn has carried mental health advocacy with her throughout her career.
“I have been fortunate to work with the Tema Foundation in partnership to develop and launch peer support programs within the Nova Scotia Public Service. I am also proud to be a Working Mind trainer with the Mental Health Commission of Canada and a LivingWorks Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) trainer.”
the importance of prioritizing mental health
Carolyn believes her career as an occupational therapist has helped shape her view of mental health, and its priority. “Not only is participation in meaningful, purposeful activity a therapeutic medium, but it is essential to health. I also believe that an individual's mental, physical, social and spiritual health are connected, and can only be artificially separated.” She also points out the obstacle of many, being bound by their work schedule, spending more waking hours there than anywhere else. “I can see how work, both the environment and the tasks can either add to, or take away from a person's well-being.”
Leading the way to mental health and safety in the workplace
The Nova Scotia Public Service was the first provincial government in Canada to adopt the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. Notably, Carolyn played a key role as the project manager when the Province was selected as part of the research case study for The Standard led by the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
“It has been a privilege to be part of the Province's journey of implementing The Standard since 2014. As a part of that work, I am humbled to lead an amazing team dedicated to supporting mental health in the workplace- The Office of Workplace Mental Health, which was developed as part of implementing The Standard in partnership with NSGEU and CUPE Local 1867.”
As impressive as Carolyn's accomplishments have been in her career, she also stresses the importance of caring for your mental health. “Spend time with people you love. Do yoga, swimming, learn something new just because you find it interesting” – she can reupholster furniture, ride a motorcycle and sew a three piece suit! – “I enjoy a good meal (cooked by someone else), laughing so hard with friends that I cry, listening to people who care about me when they tell me they are concerned about how I am doing and having a minute to just breathe when I don't have time for more than that.” We hope you’re taking notes!
Inspired by the outstanding women in her own life
When she was younger, Carolyn sought inspiration from Roberta Bondar, Canada's first female astronaut, who was the Director of an International Girl Guide Camp she attended. She also describes the grit and wisdom her mother and grandmothers instilled in her. We asked Carolyn to share some of her own wisdom to young women interested in work on the frontlines, but what she shared spanned industries, “gratitude, self-compassion and asking for help are practices I wish I had developed earlier.” When she isn’t busy helping others and advocating for mental health, you can find Carolyn spending time with her family, traveling, playing board games or experimenting in the garden.
Stay tuned for more profiles in our Outstanding Women on the Frontlines Series!
African Canadian Women in the Public Service launches Peer Support Pilot Team
Contributed by Kristen Tynes
Executive Director , Maintenance Enforcement and Victim Services
NS Department of Justice
Members of African Canadian Women in the Public Service
When Mary Sisco Sleigh started with the Nova Scotia Department of Justice almost 20 years ago, there were hardly any other women of African Nova Scotian or African descent in her division. With so little representation, being able to connect with and gain support from peers with a similar lived experience was a challenge.
Fortunately that's no longer the case. Today, Mary is co-chair of the African Canadian Women in the Public Service (ACWPS). Since its creation in 2011, the ACWPS has seen first-hand the benefits of being able to connect with someone who has walked in similar shoes. Thanks to the hard work of the ACWPS, Sisters have been able to network to share skills, provide that necessary listening ear and support each others’ mental health in the work environment.
New Peer Support Pilot Program will Support Workplace Mental Health
While much progress has been made, Recent events like the COVID pandemic and Black Lives Matter Movement have shed light on systemic injustices, emphasizing even further the importance of mental health supports. When the ACWPS leadership recently heard about a peer support program opportunity, they knew they had to have it for their members.
Offered in partnership with the province’s Office of Workplace Mental Health and the Tema Foundation, the new trauma-informed Peer Support program offers support to ACWPS members who have been dealing with blatant discrimination or micro-aggressions, or may be struggling with other issues such as loss or financial difficulties.
Meet the ACWPS Peer Support Team
The ACWPS inaugural Peer Support team is made up of five women who not only have various forms of experience supporting vulnerable people in both their personal and professional lives but have always been available to informally support colleagues when needed.
Loretta Sparks-Beals, Melanie Sasha Clarke and Danielle Elias all support teams across government working to address conflict and provide safe, equitable, inclusive and accessible workplaces. Loretta is an Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility consultant with the province’s Public Service Commission (PSC). Melanie is a Workplace Resolution Consultant with the PSC. Danielle is a Senior Advisor with the PSC’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility team.
Dana Bowden and Kristen Tynes work with vulnerable families and victims of crime with the Department of Justice. Dana is Director of Victim Services and Kristen is Executive Director of Maintenance Enforcement and Victim Services.
An Important Step to Creating Safe and Inclusive Workspaces
Mary shares that the women making up the new Peer Support team are wise, calm, strong, compassionate and empathetic. She believes they will make a huge difference to the women who take advantage of the program. She hopes it will be a game changer for their sisters and another important step towards a safe and inclusive workplace.
Thank-you to ACWPS Peer Support team member Kristen Tynes for contributing this article!
THE TEMA FOUNDATION DEVELOPS EVIDENCE-BASED AND INFORMED EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM IN MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
We can work with you to provide customized solutions that fit your unique needs. Interested in partnering on a custom mental health curriculum? Get in touch with a Tema Curriculum Specialist right away and get started.
Managing workplace stress at work and home
Everyone has experienced workplace stress at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, workplace mental health is often overlooked—but it’s critical that we don't forget about it, especially when it’s impacting our families and home lives. Here we'll discuss workplace mental health and its effects on family life, with tips on how to manage workplace stress and address it with loved ones.
What Is Workplace Mental Health?:
Workplace mental health refers to the psychological well-being of employees in the workplace environment. It is a combination of physical, organizational, social, and emotional factors that can have a positive or negative impact on employees.
How Can Workplace Stress Impact Family Life?
Stress at work can have a negative impact on family life in many ways. When workers are dealing with high levels of stress, this can lead to irritability and fatigue which can then cause tension or distance within the family. This could manifest as reduced communication or understanding between members of the family, which may prevent them from resolving issues that arise in a constructive manner.
Additionally, workers who are overwhelmed by their job may lack the energy to focus on the needs of their family and take part in leisure activities together. As it is easy for stress to become pervasive, it is important for workers to find ways to reduce their work-related stress in order to maintain healthy relationships with their loved ones.
How can I Manage Workplace Stress?:
There are several strategies that can help manage workplace stress before it impacts your family life. These include taking breaks form work, practicing healthy habits, setting realistic expectations and boundaries, developing open communication practices at work and maintaining a healthy lifestyle both inside and outside of work hours. Here's a look at how these strategies can help:
Take breaks to reduce stress
Taking a break from work - whether throughout your workday or with extended periods of time off, can help to reduce stress by giving you a respite from the pressures of the job. It can also increase your focus and productivity when you return, making it easier to tackle tasks with a clear head.
Additionally, taking breaks is beneficial for physical wellbeing, allowing you to get up and move around if you have a stationary job, or to slow down and relax if you have a physical job. Taking care of your physical wellbeing is also an important factor in supporting your mental wellbeing.
Practice setting realistic expectations and boundaries to protect against workplace stress
Trying to take on too much can lead to unnecessary stress. Prioritize tasks so you don’t overwhelm yourself, and speak up if you feel you are being laden with unrealistic expectations at work.
It's also important and helpful to set boundaries around your work. For example, when you take time off, let people at work know if, and how, you can be contacted. Don't be afraid to let people know if they have overstepped. Maintaining your personal boundaries is an important step to protecting your own wellbeing.
Ask for Help Dealing with Workplace Stress
Asking colleagues and supervisors for help in dealing with workplace stress can be a beneficial step to managing it. By speaking openly with those around you, you can gain insight into how they handle similar situations, receive advice and support, and help build a positive working relationship.
Your workplace may also offer resources such as employee assistance, peer support or stress management classes, or they may be able to help you identify resources available through your employee benefits package. Talking about your issues can provide an opportunity to brainstorm solutions and make plans for dealing with the stress together.
Find healthy outlets to relieve workplace stress
Identify activities outside of work that bring you joy and support your mental and physical well-being. Exercise, engaging in hobbies, getting outside, and spending time with family and friends all offer mood-boosting benefits.
Also be sure to prioritize self care. Get enough sleep, eat healthy meals, and take time for yourself each day in order to maintain physical and mental wellbeing. Activities like mindfulness, meditation, journalling and relaxation techniques can all help to deal with anxiety and relieve stress.
Finally, Give yourself permission to take a break when needed.
Addressing Workplace Stress With Your Family:
In spite of our best efforts, there will be times when the stress of work will follow you home. It’s important to have honest conversations with your family about workplace stress. In addition, it’s important to set aside quality time for the family as well as time for yourself. Here are some strategies for addressing workplace stress at home:
Communicate openly
Make sure your family knows what's going on at work and how it's affecting you. Talk to them about the stresses you're experiencing and how you're working to manage them. Communicating these things not only helps your family understand how you are feeling, it also sets a good example for you children that it's okay to talk about your feelings and ask for help. Talking to your family about work stress can help build trust and understanding so make sure to communicate openly and honestly with them.
Ask for support and understanding
It's okay to ask for help. Let your family know you are looking to them as allies and you may need their support. It's also important to let them know how they can help you. You may need to set some personal boundaries at home to allow yourself the time you need to practice self care.
Spend quality time with your family
Spending quality time with your family can boost your mood and increases feelings of happiness and contentment. It can reduce stress by taking your mind off work and focussing on your time together. Additionally, regular quality time with family can strengthen your familial relationships and provide a reliable home support system for your entire family.
You aren't alone. It's okay to ask for help.
Workplace stress is something that everyone experiences at some point in their lives. By taking breaks from work, setting realistic expectations and boundaries, and asking for help when needed, you can help manage workplace stress before it impacts your family life.
However, there will be times when the stress of work follows you home. When this happens, it is important to communicate openly with your family and to ask for support and understanding. And always remember that it is okay to ask for help, whether from your friends, family, colleagues or a professional.
The TEMA Foundation develops evidence-based and informed educational curriculum in mental health and wellness.
We can work with you to provide customized solutions that fit your unique needs. Interested in partnering on a custom mental health curriculum? Get in touch with a Tema Curriculum Specialist right away and get started.
The Tema Foundation Journal
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