Mental Harm Prevention Roadmap

All the tools you need to create and implement a psychological health and safety strategy at your workplace.

  • Assess your current state
  • Build your action plan
  • Monitor your results

Scroll down to learn more

About the Roadmap

The Mental Harm Prevention Roadmap is a free tool that was developed by WSPS in collaboration with Howatt HR Consulting. It offers an evidence-based approach that helps employers create and implement strategies, programs and policies related to psychological health and safety. The Roadmap is designed to complement CSA-Z1003-13 Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (“The National Standard”).*

View Roadmap Research Findings

*CAN/CSA-Z1003-13/BNQ 9700-803/2013 (R2022). Psychological health and safety in the workplace: Prevention, promotion, and guidance to staged implementation (First edition). (2014). CSA Group; Bureau de normalisation du Québec

Expand your Roadmap Knowledge

How to Start Your Journey on the Mental Harm Prevention Roadmap Website
Introduction to the Mental Harm Prevention Roadmap
Mental Harm Prevention Roadmap Start Your Journey Today!
Feuille de route pour la Prévention des Dommages Psychologiques_Information

What's the Difference Between Mental Health and Psychological Safety?

These terms are often used interchangeably. But there are differences.

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Mental Health

“A state of well-being in which every individual realizes [their] own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to [their] community”
WHO on Mental Health

Psychological Safety

A state in which workers are free from exposure to reasonably foreseeable, significant risks to their mental health arising from the acts and omissions of other people in the workplace so that… there is a low risk of mental injury.
Dr. Martin Shain on Psychological Safety

Creating a Psychologically Safe Workplace is a Journey

Where is your organization today? And where do you want to go? Organizations can be at different points on the road to a psychologically safe workplace. Please click on each section below to see where your organization is currently.

"We have a toxic and unsafe environment. There are significant risks to employee mental health."
"We don’t feel comfortable reporting mental distress out of fear of possible consequences."
“We have started to develop a mental health strategy, but there’s work to be done.”
"We’ve defined our goals and we’re in the process of implementing an action plan."
"We continually promote mental health and prevent mental harm as part of our psychological health and safety management system."

A psychologically healthy and safe workplace is...

A workplace that promotes workers’ psychological well-being and actively works to prevent harm to workers’ psychological health including in neglect, reckless, or intentional ways.
The National Standard

Who is Accountable?

Mental health in the workplace requires two-way accountability, and a joint partnership between employers and employees. There’s no single program or policy that will prevent mental harm.

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Employer Actions

  • Provide acknowledgement and recognition
  • Manage workloads
  • Communicate roles clearly
  • Build trust in managers
  • Ensure employees feel psychologically and physically safe
  • Maintain positive peer interactions

Employee Actions

  • Get enough sleep
  • Be physically active, if able
  • Make healthy food choices
  • Maintain social connections
  • Prioritize work-life integration
  • Build resiliency

When We Work Together, Everyone Wins

Regardless of the industry you’re in, your people are essential to your organization’s success and sustainability. Protecting their psychological safety is a critical business strategy and has many benefits.

Employer Benefits

  • Increased productivity
  • Increased recruitment and retention
  • Higher engagement
  • Reduced absenteeism
  • Lower costs associated with mental stress or injury

Employee Benefits

  • Lower presenteeism
  • Increased mental fitness
  • Increased meaningful social connections
  • Increased resiliency
  • Increased workplace morale

Build Your Roadmap Today

Creating and implementing a mental health prevention strategy might seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. By addressing the 8 building blocks of psychological safety, you can help prevent mental harm in your workplace.

Ready to Learn More?

Use the WSPS Mental Harm Prevention Roadmap to create a sustainable action plan for your organization.

  1. 1. Register your account for free.
  2. 2. Learn how to use the Mental Harm Prevention Roadmap.
  3. 3. Get Started by building your Action Plan!
Register Now