As an HR professional, you play an important role in supporting teams and leaders at UBC.
Familiarize yourself with mental health and psychological safety resources - both UBC and external – and share them with departments, units and faculties where appropriate.
Visit mental health tools and resources for managers, heads and deans for specific information tailored for this audience.
HR supporting UBC leaders and teams
Crisis or traumatic event in a department/faculty/unit
A step by step guide for responding to traumatic events in the workplace - Trauma Response Tool Kit for Leaders *Provided by GreenShield, UBC's Employee and Family Assistance Program. Incudes information for requesting EFAP trauma counselling services.
A three-step model for supporting teams experiencing high stress - How To Help My Team - AIR Model
How to prepare to respond to traumatic incidents at work - Responding to Trauma within Organizations
Difficult conversations with employees
Tools and strategies for having supportive conversations with individuals or employees when mental health might be an issue - Supportive Conversation Library
Diverse and inclusive mental health supports
A list of BC-specific mental health resources and supports for specific communities including people with disabilities and those who identify as IBPOC/BIPOC, Indigenous, and LGBTQ2S+ - Mental health resources for diverse communities
Employee mental health: Distress
How to recognize, respond and refer employees to appropriate mental health supports - Assisting faculty and staff in distress
UBC and external mental health resources for all campus audiences - UBC Reach Out
A mental health continuum with UBC specific resources for declining mental health - UBC’s Mental Health Continuum (Vancouver) & UBC's Mental Health Continuum (Okanagan)
Employee mental health: General
Up to date mental health resources for managers, supervisors, heads and deans - UBC Mental Health Tools and Resources
Up to date mental health resources for faculty and staff - UBC Mental Health Tools and Resources
A guide to UBC’s EFAP programs and resources - EFAP Resource Guide for Managers and Supervisors
Employee mental health: Grief
Strategies for supporting employees who are experiencing grief - Grief Response for Leaders
Employee mental health: No UBC benefits coverage
Employees in distress
- BC-specific
- Access and Assessment Centre, Vancouver General Hospital: 604.675.3700 (7:30am – 11pm)
- Mental Health and Substance Use Services, Interior Health: 250.868.7788 (11:30-9pm) or Kelowna General Hospital 250.862.4000
- Mental Health Support Line: 310.6789 (no area code). This number will connect you to your local BC crisis line without a wait or busy signal, 24 hours a day, crisiscentre.bc.ca
- Canada-wide (including BC)
- Crisis Services Canada (24/7): 1.800.784.2433, crisisservicescanada.ca/en or nearest hospital emergency department
- Kids Help Phone: Provides a texting option for Indigenous youth and adults to connect with a First Nations, Metis, or Inuit crisis responder. Youth text 68 68 68 and adults text 741 741 with the word "First Nations" or "Metis" or "Inuit" to be connected to a crisis responder from their nation if one is available (Indigenous crisis responders are not guaranteed but will be prioritized)
General mental health
- BC-specific
- Métis Crisis Line: 1-833-MÉTISBC (1.833.638.4722)
- HealthlinkBC: 811, healthlinkbc.ca
- Medimap BC: See available walk-in clinics and wait times, and book an appointment before visiting the location
- Canada-wide (including BC)
- Indigenous Mental Health Counselling and Crisis Intervention: 1.855.242.3310, hopeforwellness.ca
- International
- Wellness Together Canada (24/7 access for Canadians anywhere in the world. Online assessment and connection to e-mental health resources, individual counselling by phone, text, video)
Ensuring psychological health and safety
Strategies for responding to employee concerns, building team resilience and supporting psychological health and safety - Approaches for People Leaders
Available UBC training for managers and supervisors - Manager Mental Health Training
Problematic substance use
UBC faculty, staff and their dependents struggling with problematic substance use can access on demand support by ALAViDA TRAiL. Individuals can learn through self-guided resources, or message and meet coaches, therapists and physicians who deliver a personalized program proven to reduce substance use.
ALAViDA is accessible through the GreenShield+ platform, and is free for faculty, staff, and their e;igible dependents.
For information and details for accessing GreenShield+, visit Employee and Family Assistance Program.
For details on our Employee and Family Assistance Program, take a look at this Outline of Eligibility, Services, and Resources for HR professionals.