Manager Training Linked to Lower Mental Health Stigma

A Canadian transportation company study found a one-day course was associated with reduced stigma and greater confidence among people leaders six months later.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Mental Health

Bold flat-color vector editorial illustration of empty chairs arranged in a semicircle around a round table in a bright, modern room, evoking a manager training session. — A Mental Health Commission of Canada one-day manager training course was associated with lower workplace mental health stigma and greater manager confidence six months later, a study found. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Would you feel more comfortable talking to your manager about mental health if they had training?

A study published in Health Promotion Practice evaluated The Working Mind for Managers, a one-day mental health training program developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, at a large Canadian transportation company. Managers who completed both assessments reported lower stigma, higher resilience, greater confidence addressing workplace mental health concerns, and increased self-care practices.

Why it matters

Stigma remains a barrier to workers raising mental health concerns, and the findings suggest manager training may help change attitudes and support. The results offer an early signal for employers weighing whether to invest in leadership-focused mental health programs.

The evaluation compared 236 baseline respondents, drawn from 713 invited people leaders, with 34 or 35 matched follow-up responses six months later. The study did not include a control group, and it remains unclear whether the observed changes persist or translate into workplace practice.

The players

Mental Health Commission of Canada

A national organization that develops mental health programs and resources, and the developer of The Working Mind for Managers.

Health Promotion Practice

A peer-reviewed journal that published the study evaluating the manager training program.

The details

Participants completed The Working Mind for Managers, a program using instruction, facilitated discussion, case scenarios, and reflective exercises, with facilitators adapting examples to the workplace while keeping the core content standardized. Researchers measured stigma, resilience, confidence, and self-care at baseline and again six months after training.

Six months after training: follow-up assessment measured changes in stigma, resilience, confidence and self-care.
November 2, 2026: Health Promotion Practice article on the findings was published.

Big Picture

The study extends the evaluation record of The Working Mind program, developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, by testing a manager-focused version in a real workplace. It adds early evidence on leadership training as a tool for reducing workplace mental health stigma in Canada.

Managers who complete mental health training may feel more confident responding when employees raise concerns, and employees may find it easier to speak up. Workplaces considering similar programs can use the study's pre- and post-training measures as a starting point for their own assessments.

The takeaway

Leadership training that addresses stigma and self-care may be a practical starting point for employers, though rigorous follow-up is needed to confirm lasting workplace change.