Get Growing Series: Mental Wellbeing for You and Your Team

Get Growing Series: Mental Wellbeing for You and Your Team

While discussions on mental health in the workplace predate the pandemic, the challenges of COVID has exacerbated the problem. According to the 2021 Ontario Chamber of Commerce Business Confidence survey that while 88 per cent of small businesses believe spending on employee health was a good investment, only 49 per cent had a strategy.

Join your Ottawa Board of Trade as we explore strategies to help small business owners feel empowered to better manage mental health in the workplace. Hear from SME owners as they share their own experiences and mental health experts as they discuss stress responses, embracing uncertainty, and resource sharing.

Learning Objectives:

SME owners to feel empowered to better manage their own mental health
SME owners to feel confident in better understanding employee mental health

Featured Speaker:

Dr. Raj Bhatla, MD, FRCPC, DABPN

Dr. Bhatla joined the Royal Ottawa Hospital in 1992. He currently holds the position of Psychiatrist-in-Chief and Chief-of-Staff of the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group. He is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa and a Vice-Chairperson of the Consent and Capacity Board of Ontario. In addition to expertise in concurrent disorders, Dr. Bhatla has an interest in psychiatric ethics and is a member of the Editorial Committee of the Journal of Ethics in Mental Health.

Dr. Bhatla received his BA with Honours from Harvard University in 1982. He obtained his MD from McGill University in 1987 and was awarded the Mona Bronfman Sheckman Award for the highest standing in psychiatry. He completed his Residency Training in Psychiatry and Fellowship in Addictions at New York Medical College where he received the Mead Johnson Award in Psychiatry.

In 2011, Dr. Bhatla completed the Advanced Management Program (AMP) of the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.

Lisa Paul, Director of Operations, St. John Ambulance Ottawa

Director of Operations for St John Ambulance Ottawa, Lisa Paul has varied experience in the fields of policing, business, adult education, mental health crisis work, medical first response and suicide intervention.

Ms. Paul has served as both civilian and sworn Member of Ottawa Police Service, working in Ottawa’s downtown and Vanier areas, where she proudly found her passion for community safety, even being awarded the Quartier Vanier BIA Award for Keep the Community Safe. Ms. Paul ended her career after specialising as a detective in operations including human trafficking, prostitution, and drug investigations.

Lisa Paul retired from policing to pursue entrepreneurship, founding and operating her family business in the First Aid & CPR industry. She is also the proud Founder and Past President of the North Dundas Fire Department Station 2 Auxiliary which provides financial support for the rural Ontario fire service through fleet procurement and increased operational training and equipment.

Ms. Paul is an Executive Director of a charity softball tournament responsible for raising $150,000 for local Ottawa charities. She is also the recipient of an Academic Medal from The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson.

Her personal and professional journey with mental wellness lead Lisa further into local community support. Using her pragmatic approach to life, she educates her community as a Mental Health First Aid Instructor with the Mental Health Commission of Canada as is the National Mental Health and Wellness for the Workplace Program Lead at St. John Ambulance. When not engaged in public education, she keeps her skills sharp as a crisis responder and suicide intervention specialist supporting Ottawa and many communities throughout Canada.

Married to her partner of 19 years - Jason Paul, a Special Operations and Hazardous Materials Technician with the Ottawa Fire Service, they reside on her family estate in rural Ontario with their 6-year-old daughter.

Nancy Morris, Certified Business Psychologist

Nancy Morris is a Certified Business Psychologist who has helped businesses of all sizes improve work performance and revenue by focusing on the psychological wellbeing of everyone in the organization, whether that is 1 person or 10,000. She has successfully weathered the ups and downs of business ownership for 20+ years and brings both her experience and education to every solution. Her flagship audio program, The Morris Code™, has been delivered to over 3 million people worldwide, sharing quick "attitudes and actions" of success.

She has had dozens of radio and television appearances across Canada and the USA along with a weekly show on BBC Radio in the UK. Many of her articles and interviews have appeared online and in print, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Seattle Post Intelligencer, the Ottawa Business Journal as well as Glamour and Elegant Style magazines. Her book Procrastinate Now – Rethinking Time Management is available through Amazon, Chapters / Kobo, Barnes & Noble and several other retailers.

Find out more at her website at www.nancymorris.com

W. Brett Wilson, Father, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist

W. Brett Wilson is best known as a “Dragon Emeritus” from 3 seasons on CBC’s hit reality TV show Dragons’ Den. He has built extensive holdings in the power generation, hydrocarbon production, real estate development, cannabis, agriculture, sports and entertainment industries. His business and philanthropic leadership have brought him considerable recognition including the Order of Canada (2011) and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit (2012). Brett continues to simplify and organize his life to focus on what is most important - his family, friends and health. His semi-autobiography “Redefining Success: Still Making Mistakes” is an all-time best selling business book in Canada.

Rod Castro, Owner of 10Fourteen and Pubblico Eatery

Rod Castro is an Ottawa native that has lived in Hintonburg for the past 12 years and been the owner of 10Fourteen since 2011 and Pubblico Eatery since 2019 (both on Wellington West). A Carleton University graduate and a restaurant professional since for over 21 years. Born in Santiago, Chile his family emigrated to Canada in 1976 where they have spent time living in Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa.