Mental health in the workplace is an important topic that recognizes the impact of employee well-being on productivity, engagement and overall job satisfaction. According to WHO, almost 60% of the world’s population currently work, while globally, 15% of working-age adults live with a mental disorder. Without adequate support and intervention, mental health conditions can impact an individual’s ability to work productively and retain or gain work.
At CGI, we value the mental well-being of our consultants and professionals, whom we call CGI Partners to express our unique culture of ownership. As such, we encourage a culture of psychological safety, openness, and peer-to-peer support in the workplace. We also believe that understanding the meaning of their work and the value they bring to our organization heightens CGI Partners’ engagement and helps our clients achieve trusted business outcomes.
This year’s theme for World Mental Health Day (observed on October 10), “Mental Health at Work,” underscores the urgent need for employers, leaders and policymakers to place the mental health of employees at the forefront of workplace priorities.
Continuously investing in mental health support
CGI has prioritized our CGI Partners’ health and well-being for the last 20 years. This includes addressing mental well-being at work as a strategic imperative and continually investing in mental health initiatives designed to help CGI Partners thrive while improving the accessibility and quality of our support services.
Through our global and local actions, including new and ongoing workshops, training sessions, team challenges and awareness programs, we encourage CGI Partners to have open conversations about mental health challenges and seek support if needed.
For instance, our global program, "Mental Health Minute," encourages our professionals and consultants to spend time in a team meeting reflecting on mental health-related topics such as psychological safety, workload management, peer recognition, and eco-anxiety. The goal is to normalize mental health conversations and create a supportive environment for all our CGI Partners.
To encourage and support our consultants and professionals in creating a healthy and fulfilling work-life balance, we are adopting guidelines and policies on disconnecting from work that includes best workplace practices on communication and the use of CGI digital tools beyond working hours.
One of our key initiatives is our partnership with Global-Watch Network, an international collaborative platform of best practices in workplace mental health. This partnership allows us to turn science into action, offering tools and resources on emerging well-being topics. Through this collaboration, we contribute to building a roadmap for change and share insights with the scientific community.
Learn more about our resources to support CGI Partners
Building a culture of psychological safety with our Mental Health Ambassador’s network
We consider psychological safety in the workplace as important as physical safety in ensuring our CGI Partners and teams reach their full potential. To foster a culture of psychological safety, we equip our leaders at all levels to recognize early signs of concern, encourage open dialogue, and refer team members to the appropriate resources.
Our goal is to create a culture of openness that normalizes conversations and offers support for mental health issues. A key initiative is our Mental Health Ambassadors network, which provides peer-to-peer mental health support, encouraging CGI Partners to access help confidentially without fear of judgment.
The network consists of volunteers across our global operations trained by an accredited external provider to assist their colleagues. Mental health ambassadors are not mental health professionals, therapists or experts. Instead, they serve as the first line of support by offering an empathetic ear to a colleague or orienting them to available resources. Having such a peer support group is instrumental in destigmatizing conversations around mental health issues that could range from medical problems, anxiety, and grief to conflict at work and relationship and family issues.
As more and more CGI Partners volunteer in this effort, our network of over 600 Mental Health Ambassadors continues to expand globally across our operations.
Reinforcing our commitment with the Leadership Pledge
In 2023, we signed the Leadership Pledge with MindForward Alliance to further our commitment. This business-led initiative seeks to advance progress globally by committing to creating mentally healthy workplaces and sharing insights and best practices to build a roadmap for change. As a signatory, we reaffirm our strong commitment to prioritizing the mental well-being of our professionals worldwide.
In today’s fast-paced work culture, the pressures of meeting deadlines, navigating complex projects and maintaining high productivity levels can lead to significant stress and mental health challenges. At CGI, we are committed to providing a compassionate, safe and supportive workplace that prioritizes the mental health of CGI Partners, so they feel respected, valued and comfortable to bring their whole selves to work.
