Mental health impacts us all and while distinctive from mental illness, which one in five Canadians experience, it is important for career professionals to be equipped with the tools, skills and resources to support their clients various mental health needs. Mental Health Week will be taking place from May 4 to May 10 and this listicle provides resources for professionals in the career development field to support themselves, colleagues and clients in developing and fostering mental health.
If you need immediate assistance, call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest hospital. Crisis centres are also available by phone for people in need of assistance.
Applying a mental health lens to career advising supports for learners and leaders (Career Tech) [Blog]
Exploring the link between career advising and mental health, this blog post offers recommendations for career-advising professionals in integrating a mental health lens into their practice.
Career development as a mental health strategy: Why our work matters more than ever (CareerWise) [Article]
A mental health-informed approach to career development seeks to build psychological safety through trauma-informed approaches, builds clients’ confidence and ensures values alignment. Three ways to champion this approach are addressed in this article.
Career Services Guide: Supporting people affected by mental health issues (Nova Scotia Career Development Association and CERIC) [Guide]
This CERIC-supported Career Services Guide will help career practitioners better serve clients who experience mental health issues.
CMHA Mental Health Week (Canadian Mental Health Association) [Website]
The Canadian Mental Health Association, a nationwide organization that promotes mental health and supports people recovering from mental illness, has toolkits, fact sheets and printable materials for use in the workplace and beyond.
Mental Health Issues in the Workplace (CERIC) [Literature Search]
This CERIC literature search updated in August 2025 includes topics such as duty to accommodate, supported employment, return to work and vocational rehabilitation, inclusive workplaces and the role of employers.
Opening Minds – Mental Health Commission of Canada (Organization) [Website]
Opening Minds is a not-for-profit social enterprise that provides evidence-based programs, training and tools to talk about mental health, change negative attitudes and reduce stigma related to mental illness.
Reimagining career development in the era of mental health decline: Building resilience and humanity into the future of work (CERIC) [Article]
Using data from CAMH, this article states that mental illness is the leading cause of workplace disability in Canada. The role of career development professionals must expand beyond job readiness to include mental health literacy and trauma-informed awareness.
Strengthening Mental Health Through Effective Career Development: A Practitioner’s Guide (CERIC) [Guide]
This CERIC published guide equips career development practitioners with the skills and strategies to support and prepare clients in their career pathways by showing how to connect career development services to clients’ mental health.
Workplace Mental Health Takeaways Toolkit (Canadian Mental Health Association, Mental Health Commission of Canada) [Toolkit]
The Canadian Mental Health Association, in collaboration with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, developed the Takeaways Toolkit. The toolkit is meant to guide workplaces in putting the Standard into practice—a set of voluntary guidelines, tools and resources to prevent psychological harm and promote psychological health. The toolkit includes checklists, lessons and a quick reference sheet.
