Social Determinants of Mental Health: Navigating Difficult Conversations for Enhanced Client Well-being

According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, one in two Canadians have faced a mental health challenge by the time they are 40 making mental health the leading cause of disability in the country and preventing nearly 500,000 employed Canadians from attending work each week. Given this, it is likely that career development professionals are having conversations with clients who are struggling with their mental health. However, these career conversations can be difficult and challenging for CDPs.  

This webinar series will provide you with the tools to engage in these conversations in ways that are respectful, meaningful and within the bounds of your work. Indeed, as “Declining Mental Health & Well-Being” emerges as one of the 10 major changes shaping Career Development in 2040, it’s becoming more crucial than ever for CDPs to be trained in providing mental health support. To be effective, CDPs need to first understand the connection between mental health and trauma-informed practices. It is also important to understand the social determinants of mental health which involves recognizing the factors that contribute to our mental health at the individual, community and global level. Finally, and as equally crucial, CDPs must know how to take care of their own mental health while working with clients.  

This series of webinars is intended to provide career development professionals with concrete, trauma-informed tools and strategies to engage in difficult conversations and address issues related to the social determinants of mental health. Grounded in the wealth of the presenters over 50 years of collective experience working with clients in the career space and on issues of trauma and grief. The series will offer evidence-based insights crucial for CDPs.   

Participants will learn essential skills to handle difficult conversations about mental health including: how to ask trauma-informed questions; how to apply trauma-informed strategies in conversations; and how to assess the trauma-informed practices of referral sites to make appropriate referrals.  

By the end of this series CDPs will not only have the trauma-informed tools to assist them in pre-referral conversations, but they will also have the tools to elicit skills and abilities in the lives of their clients,  recognizing that when we shy away from these conversations we are missing out on key life skills and therefore career possibilities.  Furthermore, participants will leave the series with essential knowledge and self-care practices to maintain their own mental well-being. 

Participants will engage in a rich learning experience through extended 90-minute webinars, with opportunities to engage and reflect in small groups.  

• Understand the connection between trauma and mental health 
• Identify different types of trauma and how they impact career development 
• Address worries about retraumatizing: the process of rupture and repair 
• Listen for the career possibilities in trauma and mental health  conversations 

• Understand the continuum of mental health:  How to check in with clients on their mental health and the impacts on job search  
• Understand the social determinants of mental health and how to talk about these with clients 
• Learn how to make trauma-informed referrals

• Notice the signs and signals of needs for support in yourself.  
• Identify types of care – looking beyond self-care and Employee Assistance Plans 
• Understand levels of support – the role of conversations with your organization

Seanna Quressette, MEd, CCDP, is a trauma therapist with 30+ years in career development. Seanna lives with Complex Post Trauma Stress Disorder. She has taught career development professionals for 25+ years and is currently faculty at Douglas College. 

Dr. Catherine Hajnal facilitates an understanding of trauma, loss and grief including their transformative potential. For over 25 years she has been committed to creating learning environments that foster a deeper understanding of the human condition.    

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