Issue link: https://digital.carswellmedia.com/i/375193
3 SARI SAIRANEN, national health and safety director, CAW CHERYL EDWARDS, partner, Heenan Blaikie BRIAN KNOWLER, staff sergeant with an Ontario police service DREW SOUSA, manager, employee health services, City of Mississauga SUE BROWN, principal, Mercer IAN ARNOLD, former chair of the Workforce Advisory Committee of the Mental Health Com- mission of Canada and a consultant Sponsored by A s a police officer with an Ontario police force, Brian Knowler was the first responder to a serious col- lision nine years ago. e driver, Knowler's best friend from university, died in his arms while he was performing CPR. "My immediate way of coping was to go home and drink. It was a very old school, suck it up, deal with it, part of the job," said Knowler. He buried the incident for about eight years but it came "roaring back" to him last year when a similar incident occurred, and he was subsequently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Now, Knowler is a staff sergeant and he spends time trying to educate other officers about mental health. Knowler shared his story at a Canadian HR Reporter roundtable on mental health in the workplace, held in partnership with Sun Life Financial, in Toronto in April. While mental health issues are becoming more prevalent in today's workplace, there is still a stigma around them, according to the panel- lists. "It isn't something that's black and white; it's not something employ- ees can see," said Drew Sousa, manager of employee health services at the City of Mississauga in Ontario. "We're looking at trying to provide awareness and promotion and trying to get people to understand 'is MEET THE PANELLISTS Roundtable on mental health In April, Canadian HR Reporter managing editor Todd Humber moderated a roundtable discussion on the new National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. On the panel were: • CHERYL EDWARDS, partner, Heenan Blaikie • SARI SAIRANEN, national health and safety director, CAW • CAREY UYEDA, disability services manager, Fallsview Casino Resort • IAN ARNOLD, former chair of the Workforce Advisory Committee of the Mental Health Commission of Canada and a consultant • SUE BROWN, principal, Mercer • BRIAN KNOWLER, staff sergeant with an Ontario police service • DREW SOUSA, manager, employee health services, City of Mississauga PHOT0: SANDRA STRANGEMORE