Researchers at UNBC are seeking men employed in rural and resource-based industries to participate in a series of group discussions on wellness in the workplace.
HEADS Up is a wellness initiative based in northern BC and aimed at improving the health and wellness of men working male-dominated industries. It’s part of POWERPLAY, a workplace health program back by Northern Health, the BC Cancer Agency and the Canadian Cancer Society and researchers from Athabasca University, UBC and UNBC.
“There’s really been an increasing focus on men’s health, in part because there’s a real gender disparity in health,” says Cherisse Seaton, and adjunct Psychology professor at UNBC and the principal investigator of HEADS Up. “Men access health care services at lower rates than women do, for example. Within this context, the workplace has been recognized as a promising setting for implementing health and wellness initiatives with men.”
In June, Seaton and her team hosted discussions with men from the Prince George area to identify possible components for a workplace wellness program geared toward working men. This next round of input will help refine those initial ideas.
“The program will likely include a friendly competition to get employees actively working on their wellness so we’d like their feedback on that. There will be some supporting resources that are being created so we’d like them to have a look at those. Then, just more general discussion around work-life balance, stress and some of the positive strategies that men use in the workplace to promote wellness.”
Seaton says they’re hoping that, by talking to men, they’ll be able to develop workplace programs that are more likely to engage men.
“Although the workplace is a promising avenue, men might be less likely to participate in traditional wellness programs than women are. So we’re really looking for a program that’s tailored to the needs and preferences of men working in a variety of industries.”
The sessions will take place on September 19 and 23 from 2 – 4 pm and September 26 from 5 – 7 pm. Food will be provided and participants will receive $40 for their contributions. The sessions will be recorded but all information will be kept confidential.
Volunteers can contact Seaton for more information at 250-649-7138 or [email protected].
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