During Mental Health Week, we’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about the supports in place to care for our care teams in body, mind, and spirit. 

Body: 

Physical activity has been shown to activate mood-boosting endorphins supporting good mental health. That’s why, at the Charlton Campus, a recently-refreshed wellness centre opened in G1102.  The space (located across from the Health Records department) features treadmills, spin cycles, yoga mats, and weights to support individual and group fitness sessions for healthcare workers. With online and in-person class offerings available at all of our worksites, employees can more easily incorporate more movement into their day. Don’t love the gym? Choose from core and mobility classes, pick-up pickleball dates, and more – because here at St. Joe’s we know that physical health is inextricably linked to mental health. Learn more about our wellness programming here: Wellness Calendar Offerings You can also drop by the Wellness Centre to chat with Senior EDI Consultant, Lisa Jeffs, who shares an office space inside the Centre!

Mind: 

Caring for our community can be very rewarding, but healthcare workers also face anxiety, cope with grief, experience compassion fatigue, and sometimes live with post-traumatic stress or a multitude of other symptoms, too. To help care for care providers, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton is pleased to provide mental health services specifically for healthcare workers and first responders – both from St. Joe’s and from organizations across the region. If you feel like your unit at St. Joe’s could benefit from some support, consider booking a visit from the Care & Resilience Support (CARS) Team. If you’re a healthcare worker in need of support, please visit this page to learn more: Mental Health Services for Healthcare Workers

Spirit: 

Building an Inclusive Workplace: As a part of St. Joe's continuing journey towards greater Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), two Affinity Groups were established to create an opportunity to meet with peers who identify as 2SLGBTQ+ and/or Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC). These groups are confidential, safe spaces to connect, share experiences and explore resources. All staff, physicians and residents who identify as members of the Affinity Group(s) are invited. 

Building Resilience: Through the Schwartz Centre for Compassionate Healthcare, rounds, talks, and webinars are offered both in person and virtually to support our healthcare workers through shared experiences, learning, and emotional connections. The next Schwartz talk is a Fireside Chat with Stephen W. Trzeciak, MD, entitled Leading with Compassion. Together with Schwartz Centre Chief Medical Officer Dr. Beth Lown, they will discuss how we create and, conversely, can erode compassionate cultures and how to demonstrate empowered compassion for ourselves and others. You will also learn about research that highlights the benefits of compassion, including its positive impact on patients, healthcare workers, organizational culture, and profitability. The session takes place on May 10, 2024 from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Register: Compassion In Action - The Schwartz Center

These are just a few of the ways we’re caring for our care teams. For even more, visit the Human Resources, People and Culture, and Employee Wellness pages of MyStJoes regularly.