How to Eat an Elephant: A Digestible Approach to
Psychological Health & Safety
Anchored in Canada’s National Standard, this session turns best practices into practical first steps for a psychologically safer workplace.
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Duration: 3 hours (half day)
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Delivery Options: In person or virtual
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Ideal Audience: Leaders, HR professionals, health & safety teams and organizational decision-makers
Creating a psychologically healthy and safe workplace can feel like a big undertaking. Where do you begin? What should you prioritize? And how do you move beyond good intentions without trying to change everything at once? When the scope of the work feels enormous, even organizations that genuinely care can struggle to take that first step.
The good news is that you don’t have to eat the whole elephant in one bite! This engaging, practical workshop turns a complex topic into a clear and manageable journey. Participants will explore what psychological health and safety actually looks like in everyday working life, why it matters and how thoughtful changes can help people feel supported, valued and able to do their best work.
At the heart of the session are the 13 psychosocial factors identified in the CSA Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, Canada's best practice guidelines. These factors capture the conditions that shape how people experience work, from leadership, workload and recognition to civility, psychological support and balance. When these conditions are managed well, they can strengthen trust, engagement, retention and performance. When they’re overlooked, stress, conflict, disengagement, burnout and turnover are more likely to take hold.
Rather than treating psychological health and safety as another program to bolt onto an already crowded agenda, participants will explore how it can be woven into the way work already happens. Through relatable examples, thoughtful discussion and hands-on activities, they’ll consider how everyday decisions, workplace practices, policies and leadership behaviours can either strengthen or undermine employee well-being.
Participants will leave with a much clearer picture of what this work involves, where their organization may already be making progress and what practical next steps could move it forward. Whether your organization is taking its first bite or refining an established approach, this workshop provides the structure, confidence and direction to turn psychological health and safety from a big idea into meaningful action.
Key Learning Outcomes for Participants:
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Understand the foundations of psychological health and safety and why they matter.
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Explore each of the 13 psychosocial factors identified in the CSA Standard.
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Recognize how workplace conditions can influence employee well-being, engagement and performance.
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Identify everyday practices that may strengthen or undermine psychological health and safety.
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Discover practical ways to embed these principles into policies, leadership and daily operations.
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Identify realistic priorities and next steps for moving their organization’s journey forward.