Psychological and Social Support
Included in the National Standard are 13 organizational factors that are elements within the influence of the workplace that can impact the psychological health and safety of staff and faculty.
Think and Take Action
- Think of a time at work when you did not feel psychologically supported. How did that make you feel?
- What does a psychologically and socially supportive work environment look like to you?
- What are some strategies to help YOUR workplace to be more psychologically and socially supportive?
- Write down different ways that YOU can promote psychological and social support in your workplace.
The following video and content were adapted with permission of Ottawa Public Health and for educational and non-commercial purposes only.
What is psychological and social support?
Psychological and social support comprises all supportive social interactions available at work, either with co-workers or managers. It refers to the degree of social and emotional integration and trust among staff, faculty and managers. It refers also to the level of help and assistance provided by others when one is performing tasks. Equally important are the workers’ perceptions and awareness of organizational support. When staff and faculty perceive organizational support, it means they believe their organization values their contributions, is committed to ensuring their psychological well-being, and provides meaningful support if this well-being is compromised.