The Canadian Mental Health Association has recognized the University of British Columbia for their attention to workplace mental health.  The award was given at the annual Bottom Line Conference, CMHA’s national workplace mental health conference.

“Obscured by recent high-profile troubles at the University of British Columbia is the great work being done by the university in the realm of workplace mental health.

That work has now been recognized by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), which today gave UBC its annual Clarence M. Hincks award for its inspirational leadership, innovation and excellence in maintaining and improving mental health for all.

UBC provides a number of mental health initiatives for students, staff,and faculty, including Thrive Week, which encourages mental well-being through dialogue, awareness, healthy choices, social support and normalizing mental health challenges.

Last year, Thrive reached more than 35,000 faculty, staff and students.Reception has been exceptional, as 66 per cent of faculty and staff believe that Thrive promotes a positive campus environment and 73 per cent feel that they have a better understanding of positive mental health as a result of participating in the program. Perhaps most telling, in 2015 10 universities followed UBC’s lead and held Thrive events of their own.”

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