Prevention Link’s Workplace Mental Health Injuries workshop is ideal for workers’ compensation representatives who have some case work experience looking to gain more knowledge on mental health injury claims.

It provides participants with a better understanding of mental health and illness, stigma and discrimination, how conditions are diagnosed and what treatment options are available.

It explores:

• Which mental health injuries are covered by WSIB policy and law;
• How such claims are adjudicated; and
• Permanent impairment ratings for work-related mental health injuries.

Additionally, legal principles are discussed, and case law examples and relevant resources are provided.

Electronic evidence has become increasingly more common in recent years and WSIB accepts digital evidence and surveillance in audio, video, film, and photographic formats.

The unique challenges of this type of evidence will be explored in this workshop. Through a series of exercises, participants will learn:

• What electronic evidence is;
• How to use electronic evidence to their advantage; and
• The pitfalls of electronic evidence.

The rules for introducing electronic evidence are reviewed, how to argue the admissibility of it, and how much weight a decision maker should assign to this type of evidence is explore.

This workshop introduces participants to the compensation system in Ontario, the history and principles of compensation legislation and third party rights of action.

Key definitions within the system are described, including:  worker, employer, accident, disablement, recurrence, secondary injuries, aggravation, occupational disease, stress and chronic pain.

Participants will learn:

• Injury reporting;
• How claims are filed;
• The responsibilities of the workplace parties;
• The role of medical professionals; and
• Benefits and services available to injured and ill workers.

Information on the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), including time limits for dealing with issues are discussed and the process flow for claims and appeals are presented.

This workshop provides participants with the tools to develop strategies to assist workers with disabilities, individually and collectively; and return them to long term healthy and productive employment.

The workshop will review noteworthy case law and Human Rights legislation.

Who should take this workshop: All workers are welcome! Union and employer leadership encouraged!

Mental illness is a leading cause of disability in Canada, yet stigma around the topic is a key reason why many people don’t talk about mental illness in their workplaces.

This half-day workshop is your opportunity to become better informed and explore communication strategies in order to promote a greater understanding of occupational mental health and illness.

The workshop includes a demonstration of Mindsight, an online educational resource to reduce stigma by promoting awareness and facilitating a greater understanding of basic strategies and resources for supporting individuals experiencing a mental health challenge..

Who should attend: WSIB Representatives, RTW Specialists, Health & Safety reps, Human Resources, Workplace Leadership and Union Stewards