Advice to new Parliament: don’t forget your own mental health

The election is over, a new cabinet has been chosen, and Members of Parliament and their staff have returned to the House of Commons. The prime minister has said his government will pursue an aggressive “progressive agenda," the COVID-19 pandemic continues, and inflation and the economy continue to be cause for concern. But as new and returning Parliamentarians begin their work on behalf of Canadians, they should prioritize something that may not come easily for MPs and staff: their own mental health. Encouragingly, all of the parties promised major new investments in mental health in the recent election; like most Canadians, party leaders understand how important the issue of mental health is for people across our country. The issue appears to be non-partisan now. But while work is ongoing to improve mental health for everyday Canadians, mental health for the MPs and staff that work on behalf of Canadians is often neglected. If burnout, stress, and anxiety has been a problem for frontline workers during the pandemic, you had better believe that it’s also been a problem for those in government, especially those tasked with managing Canada’s policy response to COVID-19. Working at the highest levels of politics can mean creating real change, participating in deeply rewarding work, and pursuing the ideal of service to country that gives purpose to many. But within that work are many stressors, including incredibly long hours, immense pressure from inside the workplace (our peers) and outside (the media), and increasingly high and unrealistic expectations from the public. Throw in the vitriolic tone of “discourse” on social media, and we have a perfect recipe for bad mental health. Dale Richardson. Photograph: handout As the psychologist Ashley Weinberg has remarked in his research on U.K. politicians, stress affects decision-making—and that affects not just the politicians, but also those they serve. The mental health of a lawmaker is as important as a pilot’s or a surgeon’s; democracies depend on it. A growing number of MPs and staff have shared their mental health challenges. Former NDP MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq—a shining light in the House of Commons after being elected in 2019—regrettably decided not to run again this election, citing extreme burnout and depression directly caused by her work as a Member of Parliament. Paul Wernick, a staffer for a Liberal MP, nearly ended his life during the Liberal government’s first term. His story, first told bravely to The Hill Times and followed by CBC News, described the long working hours and extreme pressure that resulted in multiple suicide attempts, including one right in the office of his MP employer. Former MPs like Celina Caesar-Chavannes and Lisa Raitt have shared their mental health stories, and so have other former politicians and staffers across Canada. This is good and important progress, but these public stories are still few and far between, and more must be done—especially by active politicians and their staff. Emile Scheffel. Photograph: handout Support staff in local riding offices are often forgotten in the grand scheme of federal politics, but they quietly suffer from mental health challenges, too. Carleton University’s Paul Wilson recently wrote about the incredible strain that the COVID-19 pandemic has put on constituency offices, with staffers inundated with concerns and questions about CERB and vaccine passports, in addition to the routine pre-pandemic inquiries. There’s a lot to be worried about for those representing us in Ottawa when it comes to mental health, but there are actions that can be taken if the will exists. For the leaders in the new Parliament, here are some recommendations to improve mental health as you begin your work. First, Parliament must be a psychologically safe place to work. Over the past years, Parliament has done good work to implement the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s “National Standard for Psychological and Workplace Safety” and that work must continue to ensure a decrease in absenteeism, more productivity, and less turnover among staff. Second, human resources staff at the political level must hold regular information sessions and frequently remind staff of benefits and other mental health resources they have, such as access to the Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP) and counselling services, and they should encourage additional mental health courses and programs for MPs and staff, like mental health first aid training. An ongoing review of mental health benefits and services must also take place to ensure modernization, like coverage for digital mental health counselling sessions. Third, the principals in government and opposition parties—especially PMO staff and opposition senior staff—need to be mental health leaders. If staff call in sick for mental health reasons, respond to that as if they are regular sick days; there can no longer be a stigma attached to taking a day to mentally recuperate. And elected leaders—especially the Prime Minister and all party leaders—can do a great service by sharing their own stories of mental health. Watershed moments in other parts of the world have happened when politicians have shown vulnerability by sharing their own mental health challenges. Setting an example is the only way that true progress will be made. Taking care of one’s mental health doesn’t always come easy for those in public service; but when it comes to ensuring a fully functioning democracy, it is now an imperative. Dale Richardson and Emile Scheffel are former political staffers, mental health advocates, and the co-hosts of “PERSIST," a podcast about improving mental health in politics and public life. The Hill Times

Advice to new Parliament: don’t forget your own mental health

Taking care of one’s mental health doesn’t always come easy for those in public service; but when it comes to ensuring a fully functioning democracy, it is now an imperative.

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Advice to new Parliament: don’t forget your own mental health

Taking care of one’s mental health doesn’t always come easy for those in public service; but when it comes to ensuring a fully functioning democracy, it is now an imperative.

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