Each May, Mental Health Awareness Month serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of emotional wellbeing – and this year, it provides a critical opportunity to recognize a group whose needs are often overlooked: caregivers. Whether supporting aging parents, children with special needs or loved ones navigating illness, caregivers shoulder extensive responsibilities that can profoundly impact their mental, emotional and physical health.

Mental health is critical to human health and wellbeing, yet mental health problems are more likely to go undiagnosed and untreated than physical health problems. With the pandemic, international conflict, increased financial stress from inflation, and concerns about food and fuel shortages, mental health is being challenged in new ways.

Women have long been committed to dedicating their time and energy to supporting others. But what about when it comes to their own wellbeing? Recent studies show that women across Canada spend minimal to no time on their own wellbeing, with marginalized women being the most affected. What are the consequences?

Nearly half of Canadians (41 percent) who sought support for their mental health in the past year faced obstacles or altogether failed to receive it. This challenge is particularly acute for miners, whom survey findings suggest are not only at a heightened risk of not receiving the care they need but are also at greater risk of experiencing psychological distress along with common mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidality.

Organisational risk management has broad applications, from mitigating financial risk to recognising and managing risks in safety, quality, health, legal liability, and the organization's impact on the environment. Risks to and from an organisation's employees fall within the scope of risk management, typically with a focus on reducing the risk of accidents, injuries, or illness and putting controls in place to prevent employee theft or fraud. Workplace safety, for example, is commonly seen as part of risk management, and that concern extends to aspects of employee health, such as fatigue, that can impact accidents and error rates.