Health and Wellness Certificate: Bringing balance to the work environment

Innovative certificate offered by the Professional Development Institute at the University of Ottawa empowers leaders to create healthier workplaces

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The Professional Development Institute (PDI) at the University of Ottawa is currently accepting registrations for the “Health and Wellness in the Workplace” certificate program.

This six-course certificate program equips people to support both their own wellness and mental health as well as that of team members.

As organizations begin to welcome their employees back to the office after many months of working apart due to COVID-19, mental health and wellness in the workplace is more important than ever before.

The importance of wellness in the workplace

Anyone who has worked with a team knows the importance of a healthy workplace environment. When health and wellness are valued, people have much higher job satisfaction, are more productive, and absenteeism is reduced – employees, management, and the entire organization all benefit.

Tina Turner, one of PDI’s highly qualified instructors, sees a strong connection between wellness and a productive workplace.

“Healthy boundaries are a critical component of mental, emotional and even physical wellness. When use of healthy boundaries, trust, regard, and connection increase, this allows emotions to become more regulated and reliable, and we relate in a way that reduces judgment, aggression and ‘power over,’” she explains. “Teammates feel more present, less stressed giving creativity a greater opportunity to thrive. Healthy boundaries are at the core of healthy workplaces. And yet, most people struggle with them. The good news is everyone can learn these required skills.”

Courses cover a broad range of topics

The certificate program includes five core courses plus one elective giving students a solid foundation of learning. Core course topics include identifying the basic signs of common mental health disorders, fostering open communication, understanding boundaries, strengthening resilience, identifying, and dealing with stress, and how to work with difficult emotions.

All the courses of the Health and Wellness in the Workplace certificate are available online. Required courses must be completed within three years, but the pace of completion within this parameter is self-determined.

Highly qualified instructors

As with all PDI instructors, the professionals delivering the Health and Wellness in the Workplace certificate are highly experienced and qualified. Instructors in this certificate program include:

Mihaela Andronic has studied and practiced mindfulness under the guidance of Zen Master and Nobel peace nominee Thich Nhat Hanh for almost 20 years. She holds a Master of Engineering degree from Bucharest Polytechnic and a Master of Arts from Sunderland University.

Linda Côté’s 25 years of experience as an economist with the public service, along with her training as a naturopath specializing in stress and professional burnout give her a unique perspective on wellness in the workplace. She is also a public speaker on mental health and wellness.

Karima Kara is a Qualified Facilitator, coach, and mediator. She holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from McGill University and a Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University.

Breanna Pizzuto is the Lead Trainer and Consultant for Talk Tools Training who also holds degrees from the University of Ottawa in Health Sciences and Psychology. Breanna has trained volunteers at the Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region as well as Ottawa Victim Services.

Tina Turner has over 20 years of experience working with corporations and professional associations in the fields of technology, process, and strategic learning. Tina holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from Carleton University, a Master of Arts in Conscious Evolution from The Graduate Institute, is a certified executive coach, and is certified in equine experiential learning.

To learn more about PDI’s Health and Wellness in the Workplace Certificate program or to enrol, visit the PDI website or call (613) 562-5802.

The Professional Development Institute at the University of Ottawa offers a variety of courses that support leadership and workplace knowledge. For more information about the wide range of educational opportunities that PDI has to offer, visit them online.