BC Workplace Mental Health & Addiction Scientific Committee

The BC Workplace Mental Health & Addiction Scientific Committee was formed in October 2005, and represents a collaboration of researchers/scientists (both in BC and other provinces) with expertise in the area of workplace mental health and addiction.

The committee is co-chaired by Dr. Elliot Goldner, Professor, Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA) at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, and Peter Coleridge, Vice President, Education and Population Health, BC Mental Health & Addiction Services (BCMHAS), and Special Advisor, Mental Health Promotion, Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health. BCMHAS serves as the primary host organization for the committee.

See this page for a full list of the committee membership.

The purpose of the committee is to coordinate and provide advice on the development, dissemination and exchange of workplace mental health and addiction research in British Columbia, in partnership with the British Columbia Business and Economic Roundtable on Mental Health, and other key stakeholders in BC, other provinces, and at the national and international level.

The Terms of Reference of the committee are:

1. To develop a comprehensive research framework (i.e. health promotion, prevention, early intervention, and disability management and return to work) for workplace mental health and addiction to guide research opportunities/efforts in British Columbia, and in collaboration with other provinces, and at the national and international level;

2. To identify workplace mental health and addiction research priorities within the public and private sectors in British Columbia;

3. To identify research collaboration and funding opportunities in relation to the comprehensive research framework and identified priorities;

4. To advise on the implementation and evaluation of workplace mental health programs;

5. To advise on the transfer of existing and emerging knowledge and the development of practical interventions, policies and tools based on research findings, to ensure adoption/use by relevant stakeholders;

6. To liaise with public and private sector employers, BC Federation of Labour, insurers, EAP providers, relevant government ministries, and other key stakeholders;

7. To liaise with the Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Mental Health and Addiction Scientific Committee, and with other national and international research bodies.

Translating Knowledge into Action: Connections with Business

A specific mandate of the committee is to build partnerships with the business community via the following:

• Obtaining business input into research priorities and questions
• Understanding the needs of businesses with respect to prevention of workplace mental health and addiction issues
• Identifying current and emerging issues in the business community that would benefit from research evaluation and input
• Exploring sources of relevant research data, in both the private and public sectors
• Developing an inventory of existing tools, policies, programs, and strategies for addressing workplace mental health & addiction issues in the workplace
• Building partnerships regarding the development and evaluation of workplace-centered programs and policies
• Collaborating in ‘real world’ settings for implementation of tools, policies, programs, and strategies
• Facilitating connections between researchers and businesses to serve as ‘research laboratories’
• Working collaboratively to decrease the business costs associated with untreated mental health and addiction issues (e.g., lost productivity; absence from work)

Businesses and employers that are interested in providing feedback and input into the activities of the Scientific Committee are encouraged to contact Dr. Joti Samra, Scientist, Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA; www.carmha.ca) at the Faculty of Health Sciences, SFU, at jsamra@sfu.ca.