Not Myself Today® takes proactive approach to mental health with manager training program
This article was produced in partnership with the National Office of the Canadian Mental Health Association
Creating a mentally healthy workplace starts at the top, and managers wield a lot of power in the quest to banish stigma and open the floodgates on meaningful conversations with their teams.
Managers who are trained in how to lead well-being discussions, spot red flags, and encourage openness see the results clearly: a 28% reduction of work-related sick leave, a 27% reduction of mental health disability duration, and a 20% reduction of mental health disability related costs.
“The data shows that employees thrive when their managers demonstrate psychological safety, empathy, and confidence in navigating mental health topics,” says Katharine Coons, National Associate Director, Workplace Mental Health, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).
“When leaders are equipped with the knowledge to support their teams' mental well-being, it not only enhances employee experiences, but also fosters a culture of trust and resilience — ultimately driving both engagement and productivity.”
Not Myself Today for Managers: an innovative approach to supporting workplace mental health
Last year on World Mental Health Day, Not Myself Today® (NMT) — a social enterprise of the CMHA National that provides learning modules and other resources for employees to help improve their mental health at work — launched: Not Myself Today® for Managers.
Comprised of five e-learning modules that total approximately four hours of learning, the managers program builds off NMT’s longstanding program that’s available for all employees. This newest complimentary program was created in response to the compelling research the NMT team had compiled over the years that pointed to the cascading impact managers have across organizations and the pivotal role they play in shaping well-being discourse.
One widespread user call-out is the managers program’s interactivity. Built to be as immersive as possible, there are features like workplace video simulations, animations, click-to-reveal interactions, expert video interviews, and knowledge checks. The video scenarios, where managers have conversations with employees, play out in a “choose your own adventure” type structure that moves the needle from theory to practice and takes training from bland to engaging.
Another key component is the program’s delivery models. The program can be provided to organizations through CMHA National’s platform or organizations can choose to upload the eLearning series to their own LMS.
“We’re making mental health learning more accessible and measurable by embedding it into everyday learning,” explains Coons. “Training managers through a consistent, LMS-integrated experience ensures those leadership qualities are fostered at scale — and that no one gets left behind.”
37% of Canadian employees feel unsafe talking about mental health at work
Since its release, the need for it has only grown. From inflation, layoffs, tariff wars and economic volatility in general, to the uncertainty of revolutionary technologies like AI and changing mandates with remote versus in-office expectations, it’s not a surprise that mental health challenges are on the rise among Canadians. Ignoring that comes at a steep cost, especially against the backdrop of today’s headlines, yet managers aren’t always taught how to support someone emotionally.
Developing the skills to engage employees in conversation around mental health is important when a manager spends hours each day working closely with their teams. It’s about leading mental health conversations in the workplace, establishing a safe place to share before something becomes a major issue.
The NMT managers program closes that knowledge gap and offers a critical edge that employers should be paying attention to: a decidedly proactive approach. NMT empowers employees and managers to spot early warning signs, prioritize daily well-being, and normalize conversations about mental health before issues escalate.
This is important training for people leaders because a striking 37% of Canadian employees feel unsafe talking about mental health at work, even when they’re deeply struggling. By fostering awareness, reducing stigma, and overall, simply making it okay to not be okay, employers can create a supportive culture where employees feel safe reaching out and accessing available resources — making mental health a collective, not just individual, responsibility.
Mental health training directly improves employee experience
Ultimately, NMT isn’t just about equipping managers; it’s about building a resilient, supportive environment for the entire workforce. By integrating the program’s full suite of resources, organizations can move beyond reactive support and create lasting, positive change in workplace mental health.
That said, NMT is dedicated to evolving its program to align with what the realities of Canadian workplaces and the research is clear: manager mental health training directly improves employee experience, well-being, and psychological safety. October is Healthy Workplace Month: seize the opportunity to make a positive difference for your people that will reverberate throughout the organization.
“Advocating for employees' rights to be supported in the workplace is essential,” sums up Coons. “And investing in mental health education for managers plays a vital role in this effort.”
Want to preview the Not Myself Today® training? Book a session with a CMHA representative to see the program in action. CMHA locations across the country offer workplace mental health training and supports, visit their website to find a CMHA in your area.
