Conversations That Matter: Mental Health Awareness for Leaders
Conversations That Matter is practical workplace mental health training for managers, supervisors, and leaders in British Columbia. The workshop helps leaders recognize when an employee may be struggling, approach sensitive conversations with confidence, and respond in a supportive and appropriate way. Participants develop practical skills they can use when mental health challenges, stress, burnout, or difficult life circumstances begin to affect an employee at work.
Because of this reality, leaders play an important role in recognizing when someone on their team may be struggling. This workshop is specifically designed for managers and supervisors who want to strengthen their ability to support employees experiencing mental health challenges or difficult life circumstances that may be affecting their work.
Participants do not need to become mental health professionals to make a meaningful difference. Instead, this interactive workshop focuses on building practical skills that help leaders approach sensitive conversations with confidence, empathy, and respect. Using practical tools, participants practice real-world scenarios and engage in discussions and activities that reinforce effective communication and supportive leadership.
The goal is to help leaders feel more comfortable starting conversations that matter—conversations that can make a real difference for employees and for workplace culture.
In some workplace situations, an employer may have a duty to inquire when there are reasonable indications that an employee may require accommodation. Recognizing when something may be wrong and opening the door to supportive dialogue is a key part of effective leadership.
What Managers Will Learn
- Recognize changes in behaviour, communication, attendance, or performance that may indicate an employee is struggling
- Prepare for and initiate supportive workplace conversations
- Ask respectful questions without trying to diagnose or counsel
- Listen and respond with empathy while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries
- Understand the manager’s role in the duty to inquire and workplace accommodation process
- Use trauma-informed communication during sensitive conversations
- Connect employees with appropriate workplace, community, or professional supports
- Follow up after an initial conversation and maintain appropriate communication
- Balance employee support with workplace expectations and responsibilities
- Build a workplace culture where conversations about mental health can occur safely and respectfully
Conversations That Matter helps managers develop the skills and confidence needed to approach these situations thoughtfully and compassionately. With practical tools, leaders learn a trauma-informed approach that guides them in how to acknowledge when an employee may be struggling, respond in a supportive and respectful way, connect the employee to appropriate resources, and reconnect to ensure ongoing support.
Using this framework allows managers to explore what might be affecting an employee’s wellbeing while fulfilling their responsibility to inquire in a respectful and supportive manner.
This workshop is delivered and designed to bring both leadership experience and expertise in workplace mental health, ensuring the training is practical, relevant, and grounded in real workplace situations.
Who Should Attend?
- Managers and supervisors
- Team leaders and lead hands
- Directors and senior leaders
- Human resources professionals
- Municipal and government leaders
- Healthcare and community-service leaders
- Industrial and resource-sector supervisors
- Nonprofit and social-service managers
- Organizations wanting to strengthen psychologically healthy leadership practices
Course Length & Delivery
Length: 7 hours
Delivery: Available in person in Prince George and throughout British Columbia. Virtual delivery may also be available.
Group Training: Designed for managers, supervisors, leaders, and workplace teams. Training can be customized to reflect the organization’s workplace environment and the situations leaders commonly encounter.
Raven Workplace Mental Health Training and Consulting 