Morneau Shepell to host annual event across Canada on workplace mental health

Business leaders from across sectors meet to discuss workplace mental health and the next frontier in employee support and workforce resiliency strategies

TORONTO, Jan. 27, 2014 /CNW/ - Tomorrow, Morneau Shepell will hold its annual forum, "Employers Connect," in five cities across the country. The largest human resources consulting company in Canada will host employers and media at by-invitation-only seminars in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax, where business leaders are meeting to candidly share their experiences and discuss early detection, prevention and solutions to mental health issues in the workplace.

Mental health has a significant impact on both employees and employers in the form of substantial human and financial costs. Fortunately, with early identification and appropriate mental health support, employees and employers can benefit from better health outcomes and improved performance.

"A major goal for Employers Connect is to remove the stigma behind mental health," said Alan Torrie, President and Chief Executive Officer, Morneau Shepell. "We are hoping to do this by sparking the conversation and encouraging employers to develop support systems in the workplace for those who deal with mental health issues and to foster a psychologically healthy and safe work environment."

Events taking place across Canada will present a wide range of speakers from leading Canadian companies like Morneau Shepell, Bell Canada and Conoco Phillips Canada, to a member of Canada's national cycling organization, a retired lieutenant colonel, a sports psychiatrist and more. Members of the media are invited to attend their local event to hear firsthand how Canadian organizations are addressing the growing challenge of mental health issues in the workplace.

Events will be held at the following locations and times:

• Vancouver: Fairmont Pacific Rim, 1038 Canada Place, from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m.
• Calgary: Sheraton Eau Claire, 255 Barclay Parade SW, from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m.
• Toronto: Fairmont Royal York, 100 Front St. W., from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m.
• Montreal: Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, 900 Rene Levesque Blvd. W, 8:00 to 10:30 a.m.
• Halifax: Marriott Habourfront Hotel, 1919 Upper Water St., from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

To join the conversation online, tweet us @Morneau_Shepell #EmployersConnect #MentalHealth.

About Morneau Shepell's Workplace Mental Health Services and Expertise
Morneau Shepell has been a leader in workplace mental health for more than 30 years developing fulsome, innovative strategies and solutions that help management teams improve the productivity and performance of their organizations by creating psychologically healthy workplaces for their people. With mental health being the single most significant driver of disability absence cost, Morneau Shepell offers best-in-class Disability Management Solutions and is currently offering consulting services to support leading organizations implement the new National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, introduced in 2013. Morneau Shepell is the Canadian or global first to market within a number of areas including, a Global Domestic Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a Global Expatriate EAP, Mental Health in the Workplace Training for Managers, Return-to-Work Facilitation and Workplace Harassment Solutions, among many others. Morneau Shepell offers end-to-end support to organizations in addressing the multi-faceted issue of workplace mental health.

About Morneau Shepell Inc.

Morneau Shepell is the largest company in Canada offering human resources consulting and outsourcing services. The Company is the leading provider of Employee and Family Assistance Programs, as well as the largest administrator of retirement and benefits plans. Through health and productivity, administrative, and retirement solutions, Morneau Shepell helps clients reduce costs, increase employee productivity, and improve their competitive position. Established in 1966, Morneau Shepell serves more than 8,000 clients, ranging from small businesses to some of the largest corporations and associations in North America. With approximately 3,300 employees in offices across North America, Morneau Shepell provides services to organizations across Canada, in the United States, and around the globe. Morneau Shepell is a publicly-traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MSI). For more information, visit morneaushepell.com.

SOURCE: Morneau Shepell Inc.

For further information:

For additional information or to RSVP, please contact:

Heather MacDonald
Kaiser Lachance Communications
647-725-2520 ext 207
[email protected]

Nathan Gibson
Corporate Communications
Morneau Shepell
416-390-2641
[email protected]