Mental health has become one of the most critical workforce challenges facing organizations today—impacting employee well‑being, productivity, disability costs, and organizational resilience. HR leaders are increasingly expected to navigate evolving mental health needs within a complex landscape shaped by generational shifts, leadership shortages, economic uncertainty, and limited resources.
This HRPA Central East Chapter event brings together industry expertise to explore mental health as a foundational workforce issue—from prevention and disability trends to recovery, rehabilitation, and sustainable return‑to‑work strategies.
Participants will gain insights into how mental health challenges are showing up across the workforce, the impact on disability and benefit costs, and the pivotal role HR plays in supporting effective rehabilitation and reintegration into the workplace. The session will also examine the organizational risks and costs associated with delayed or insufficient mental health interventions—and how employers can mitigate these through proactive, integrated approaches.
This engaging session will combine thought leadership, data‑driven insights, and practical discussion to support HR professionals in strengthening mental health strategies at both the human and organizational level.
Learning outcomes:
- Understand key mental health trends affecting today’s workforce, including generational and economic influences
- Gain insight into mental health-related disability patters and cost drivers
- Explore best practices for rehabilitation, return-to-work, and risk mitigation
- Identify actionable strategies HR leaders can use to support employee outcomes while managing organizational impact
Agenda
7:15 AM - Registration
7:30 – 8:30 AM - Breakfast Buffet & Networking
Volunteer‑led structured networking opportunity
8:30 – 8:45 AM - Welcome & Introductions
Tammy Sergie, CHRE, CHRL, CHRP, SHRM‑CP
Chief Human Resources Officer, Edgewood Health Network
Session Focus: Mental Health as a Workforce Imperative
- Generational impacts, leadership gaps, burnout
- Economic volatility and resource constraints
- Mental health as a foundational organizational risk
8:45 – 9:30 AM
Dr. Khush Amaria
Director, Clinical Services, GreenShield Health
Session Focus: Mental Health, Disability, and System Pressures
- Mental stress injury trends and realities
- Cost implications and employer exposure
- What HR leaders need to understand about claims and recovery
9:30 – 9:45 AM - Bio Break
9:45 – 10:30 AM - Speaker #2
Alexa Nielsen, MA, PMP
Senior Director, Operations – Mental Stress Injuries Program, WSIB
Session Focus: From Absence to Recovery: Rehabilitation & Return‑to‑Work
- The role of leadership and workplace culture
- Effective supports for reintegration
- Risks of delayed or ineffective intervention
10:30 – 11:00 AM - Panel Discussion & Audience Q&A
Panelists:
- Tammy Sergie, CHRO, Edgewood Health Network
- Khush Amaria, Director, Clinical Services, GreenShield Health
- Alexa Nielsen, MA, PMP, Senior Director, Operations – Mental Stress Injuries Program, WSIB
The panel will explore rehabilitation, recovery, and return‑to‑work strategies, with discussion focused on mitigating financial and human risks through timely intervention, collaboration across systems, and effective leadership practices.
NEW! Chapter Connectors Program - To foster connection, support, and engagement within the HRPA community, we wish to pair in-person event attendees with experienced member "Connectors".
NEW! Ad-hoc Volunteer Opportunities - Interested in helping as a greeter, registration desk helper, speaker support and/or runner at an upcoming in-person Chapter event.
For both of the above opportunities, you should check of the box during registration but you will also need to login to Volunteer with HRPA and sign up there. Thank you for volunteering to help!
Registration Closes: June 5, 2026 at 8:00AM…or sooner if it sells out!
Registration Difficulties or Questions: Please reach out to Rebecca Lauzon our Specialist, Member Engagement at rlauzon@hrpa.ca