Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace and at Home

Lyne is a Health & Wellness Specialist and has been working at Nova Scotia Power for 28 years. She’s a long-standing and passionate advocate for mental health both at work and in the community. She’s been recognized for her contributions by the NS Legislature, and she’s a recipient of several awards including the Mental Health Foundation of NS Inspiring Lives Award and a nominee for Canada’s 150 Change Makers.

Lyne was also one of the first people in Canada to be designated a Certified Peer Support Specialist. She loves volunteering and has served on countless boards, committees, and projects related to improving mental health in our communities. She’s grateful to those who have shared their stories with her over the years.

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Whether we work for others, ourselves, or do the meaningful work of maintaining a household, we encounter situations every day that can impact our health and safety. Some hazards are obvious, like speeding through a work zone, crossing against a light, or not cleaning the snow off a car.

At home, we do things like turning the stove off, shoveling ice from driveways, or protecting little ones from stairs. We can reduce or eliminate many physical risks by changing how we do things. By changing our behaviour, we change the outcome—and that helps us stay physically safe.

When we think of psychological health and safety, we often think of things like self-care, asking for help, setting boundaries, exercising, and eating well. While these are all great strategies, there’s more to psychological safety both at work and at home.

In our communities, we see many signs related to physical safety—traffic lights, stop signs, crosswalks, and directional arrows all remind us to pause and proceed safely. But markers for psychological safety are less obvious.

Do we feel safe to speak up when we see something unsafe or when we feel unsafe ourselves? Feeling unsafe can be both physical and psychological, whether at work or at home. Being bullied, dismissed, or disrespected can make us feel unsafe too.

Safe two-way communication—where we can speak respectfully and without fear of retribution—is crucial for psychological safety. It’s also important to reflect on how we contribute to that safety with our words and actions.

• Do I feel trained and have the right skills to do my work or complete a task? Do I feel safe sharing ideas or concerns? Am I comfortable pressing pause when a situation changes to reassess safety for everyone involved?
• Do I recognize how my body reacts when I don’t feel psychologically safe—and how to manage through it?
• Do I live in constant false positivity or constant negativity, instead of balancing both challenges and gratitude?
• Do I give and receive recognition? Feeling valued and having purpose is important for our wellbeing at home and at work.
• Do I know where to find support if I need it? Knowledge empowers and brings hope.

Both physical and psychological safety go hand in hand—without one, the other will falter. Before we cross the street, we ensure physical safety, but are we also mentally focused? Considering all risks helps keep us safe and healthy—body and mind.

Learn more at the Canadian Mental Health Association >

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• Health & Safety
• Psychological Safety
• Mental Health
• Workplace

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