Rutherford, Kara

The present study investigated the lived-experiences of individuals with workplace mental health injuries to better understand the thoughts, emotions, and behavioural processes that promote or inhibit help-seeking. This research investigated the interactions and relationships with relevant stakeholders and how they influence help-seeking. Qualitative methodology was employed by conducting semi-structured interviews with individuals (n=12) from various occupational classes who had experienced a workplace mental health injury. Interpretative phenomenological analysis and thematic content analysis were combined to analyze the data. Three main themes emerged: 1) self-preservation through injury concealment or distancing from workplace stressors 2) fatigue relating to complex help-seeking pathways, accumulation of stressors, and decreased ability in treatment decision-making, and 3) (mis)trust in the people and processes involved. These findings may help inform the mechanisms behind help-seeking for workplace mental health injuries, which may have implications for future research, policy development, and workplace processes to better facilitate a path to help.

Author Keywords: help-seeking, mental health concealment, self-preservation, trust, workplace mental health, WSIB

In an era of population aging, many rural communities are investigating alterna- tive living accommodations for older adults. Abbeyfield housing offers a unique, non-profit, community-based, communal-living model that includes private, inde- pendent living space geared towards middle-income seniors. This model has been successful internationally and across Canada including houses in Ottawa, Toronto, Durham, and Caledon. However, before investing in developing this type of non-profit retirement living model, and the social, voluntary-based infrastruc- ture necessary to do so, it is important to thoroughly and accurately understand the local population's needs and preferences to ensure appropriate and effective retirement housing developments. Focusing on the small rural town of Lakefield, Ontario, this community-based research project examined the needs, prefer- ences, and attitudes of older adults and other community members towards re- tirement living, to determine the feasibility and community desire for the devel- opment of an Abbeyfield house in Lakefield.