Mental Health Awareness Month 2026: Shaping Safer Workplaces
Every nurse deserves a workplace that supports psychological health and safety -- identifying psychosocial hazards is an important part of creating safer workplaces.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, BCNU is asking members to use new findings about psychosocial hazards to start conversations about psychological health and safety in their workplaces. The findings come from more than 1,300 psychological health self-check charts that members completed during last year’s Mental Health Awareness Month, providing insight into the psychosocial hazards that contribute to psychological harm.
View the MHAM 2026 infographic below to see the provincial and health authority-level findings.
Psychological health and safety resources
Use these resources to identify, understand and report psychosocial hazards and psychological harm in the workplace:
- Psychological Health Self-Check Chart
- Psychological Injury Reporting Self-Check Bookmark
- Psychological Injury: Quick Reference
- Psychological Injury: Complete Guide
Understanding and addressing psychosocial hazards
Psychosocial hazards are workplace conditions that can affect psychological health and safety. They can include excessive workloads, inadequate staffing, violence, unsafe working conditions, poor communication and other workplace pressures.
The appropriate response will depend on the specific workplace circumstances and the employer’s established processes.
Select a hazard below to learn more about what it may look like in the workplace, relevant occupational health and safety references, and examples of actions that may help address it.
Staffing and workload pressures
Work demands, work schedules and staffing conditions that may contribute to fatigue and affect a worker’s ability to work safely and effectively.
Examples: insufficient nurse-to-patient ratios, short staffing and high pace of work.
Relevant references
Examples of workplace actions
- Conduct workload and/or fatigue risk assessments.
- Review staffing levels and scheduling patterns that may contribute to workload and fatigue.
- Review or develop workplace fatigue policies and procedures.
- Review incident trends and psychological injury reports at JOHSC meetings to identify recurring workplace factors.
- Consider peer check-ins, psychological supports and early intervention resources.
Verbal and physical violence
Physical force, threats or threatening behaviour that may cause injury or give a worker reasonable cause to believe they are at risk of injury.
Relevant references
- OHSR 4.28 – Risk Assessment
- OHSR 4.29 – Procedure to Eliminate or Minimize Risks to Workers
- OHSR 4.30 – Instruction of Workers Responding to Violence
Examples of workplace actions
- Review the site’s Violence Risk Assessment and ensure identified controls are implemented.
- Ensure behavioural care plans are complete, current and communicated before providing care.
- Confirm RSO and other violence-prevention resources are available.
- Ensure Code White and Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum (PVPC) training is up to date.
- Ensure timely Critical Incident Support following incidents.
- Provide education on workers’ right to refuse unsafe work.
Hallway beds and physical workspace pressures
Workplace conditions or arrangements that may interfere with safe access or the safe movement of workers, patients, equipment or materials.
Relevant references
Examples of workplace actions
- Include crowding and workspace hazards in workplace inspections.
- Identify areas where hallway beds or equipment impede safe movement.
- Discuss strategies to address bed capacity issues.
High noise and overstimulation
Workplace noise that may be potentially harmful or interfere with workers’ ability to work safely and effectively.
Relevant references
- OHSR 7.2 – Noise Exposure Limit
- OHSR 7.3 – Noise Measurement Required
- OHSR 7.5 – Noise Control and Hearing Conservation Program
Examples of workplace actions
- Assess sources and levels of workplace noise.
- Identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary noise or overstimulation.
- Ensure noise measurement and monitoring equipment is available.
- Consider appropriate mitigation measures where applicable.
Public and patient access to staff areas
Access to staff or work areas that may create or increase workplace safety, security or violence-related risks.
Relevant references
- OHSR 4.28 – Violence Risk Assessment
- OHSR 4.29 – Procedures and Policy to Protect Against Violence
- OHSR 4.30 – Instruction to Workers
- Health authority-specific violence-prevention policies
Examples of workplace actions
- Review access controls and staff-only areas.
- Include staff protection measures in workplace inspections.
- Review violence-prevention procedures and site-specific controls.
- Provide training and education on procedures for responding to violence at the specific worksite.
Lack of safety equipment
Lack of access to appropriate equipment or devices needed to help control workplace hazards or obtain assistance when required.
Examples: personal alarm pendants, mechanical lifts or other equipment used to support worker safety.
Relevant references
- OHSR 4.28 – Violence Risk Assessment
- OHSR 4.29 – Procedures and Policy to Protect Against Violence
- OHSR 4.30 – Instruction to Workers
Examples of workplace actions
- Review the availability and accessibility of required safety equipment.
- Identify equipment gaps through workplace inspections.
- Review maintenance and replacement processes.
Compromised indoor air quality
Workplace air quality concerns related to ventilation, airborne contaminants or other conditions that may affect worker health and safety.
Relevant reference
Examples of workplace actions
- Review ventilation and potential sources of poor air quality.
- Include ventilation and air quality concerns in workplace inspections.
- Identify appropriate exposure controls.
Isolation and working alone
Working in circumstances where assistance would not be readily available to the worker in case of an emergency, injury or ill health.
Relevant reference
Examples of workplace actions
- Review working-alone procedures.
- Ensure effective check-in systems and alarm devices are available.
- Review procedures when workplace conditions change.
OHS Prevention Request
Members can submit requests for support from our membership department and occupational health and safety department – prevention team on this BCNU Support page.
Services to Support Members
BCNU regional mental health representatives are available to support members. Find contact information on the BCNU Member Portal.
If you are experiencing suicidal ideation call the Suicide Crisis Hotline. 24/7 9-8-8
From Awareness to Action
Joint Occupational Health and Safety representatives are encouraged to review the relevant psychosocial hazards for their region or workplace and bring them forward at an upcoming JOHSC meeting for discussion and action. Review existing controls, consider inspections or corrective actions, and document follow-up by using this Guide for JOHSC Representatives.
Supplemental Mental Health Benefit
This benefit provides all members covered by the NBA collective agreement with access to an additional $5,000 lifetime amount to cover cost of a registered psychologist, registered social worker, and registered clinical counsellor, as well as internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT).