The Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) and Fleming College’s Muskoka-Kawarthas Employment Services (MKES) are partnering on a new initiative to increase awareness and education around mental health supports in employment services.
The partnership aims to improve employment outcomes across the Muskoka-Kawarthas region by helping frontline staff better support job seekers experiencing mental health challenges.
The Work Well initiative, launching in April, encourages employment service staff throughout the region to participate in a series of mental health information sessions. Designed by CMHA HKPR, the sessions teach staff to use a strengths-based approach, apply a trauma-informed lens, and provide guidance on mental health disclosures and workplace accommodations.
Staff who complete the full series will receive a digital badge and a letter of achievement recognizing their commitment to supporting mental health in employment services.
“CMHA HKPR recognizes that finding and keeping employment while managing mental health concerns can be challenging. The Work Well initiative provides education and awareness that empower staff and job seekers with an improved understanding of the importance of mental health in the workplace and what to do when mental health interrupts someone’s ability to stay well at work,” says Kim Kennelly, CMHA HKPR Manager of Justice Services and Employment Services. “Alongside information sessions, Mental Health Employment Consultants are available to offer consultation and one-on‑one mental health support to employees and job seekers throughout their journey towards meaningful employment.”
“Individuals throughout our communities are facing unprecedented challenges that are impacting their mental health,” says Joanne Spicer, Associate Vice President, Student Experience at Fleming College. “Our goal is to foster a better understanding of mental health and illness in the employment services sector in order to further reduce barriers to finding meaningful work. This includes supporting job seekers with tools they can use to navigate the process of searching for and maintaining employment.”
The Work Well program will run on a two-year cycle, beginning in 2026, giving participants two years to complete the series with opportunities for ongoing renewal.
