A group of girls working out in the gym.

Self-Care and Mental Health for Working Canadians

According to Government of Canada, mental health in the workplace benefits both employees and employers by improving:

productivity
mood
employee satisfaction
staff retention
teamwork

To support this claim, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has shared a video on the importance of promoting mental health in the workplace:

Self-care is also just as important as mental health. The whole concept of self-care is based on two parts: self care actions and self-care interventions. Self-care actions are habits and life-style choices that helps us become self sufficient in looking after ourselves resulting in us being happy and healthy. Some of these choices include but not limited to:

Regular physical activity which reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety. This also improves your thinking patterns, learning process and personal judgements.
Eating a healthier or well balanced diet among the 4 major food groups in Canada: fruits & vegetables, milk & alternatives, meat & alternatives and grain products. This helps your body and mind receive all the essential nutrients and vitamins to function optimally.
Looking after your mental health such as: getting a good night’s sleep, spending time in nature and outdoors, talking to family and friends and managing stress.

Self-care interventions are evidence-based tools that support self-care such as quality medicines, devices, diagnostic and digital tools.

This next video by Dr. Manjulaa Narasimham of World Health Organization explains more about self-care interventions.

Overall, self-care and mental health are fundamental components of maintaining and improving both your mind and body. Everyone can build resilience, reduce stress and foster emotional well-being leading to a more balanced, fulfilled and healthy life.