3 Ways to Promote Mental Health Inclusion in the Workplace

Dr. Komal Bhasin teaching a mental health workshop

Although more and more organizations are looking to incorporate inclusive mental health strategies into their DEI efforts, we’re still repeatedly hearing that more guidance is needed on how to make this happen. Here are three things you can do to cultivate mental health inclusion at work.

4 Ways to be a Better Ally to Your Sikh Colleagues and Friends

Ritu Bhasin and Dr. Komal Bhasin having a conversation next to a projector screen in a conference room

For many people of Indian descent, watching the farmers’ protests in India over the last several months has been very difficult because of the spotlight on injustices, violations of human and civil liberties and more. Here’s what you can do to be an ally to your Sikh colleagues during this difficult moment.

5 Ways to Move Inclusion Forward in the New Year

Ritu Bhasin teaching an inclusion workshop to a group of diverse professionals

The last year has been a tumultuous and heart-wrenching time, with many of us facing a seemingly endless procession of inclusion challenges. Here are five of the strategies we can all focus on as leaders, team members and allies in order to keep pushing for a more inclusive world.

Dr. Komal Bhasin, MSW, MHSc, DocSocSci

Komal is bci’s Senior DEI Consultant and Mental Health Expert-in-Residence and an accomplished DEI facilitator, coach, and strategist. Komal has over 20 years of experience in providing strategic and advisory guidance and program development across a range of sectors, with a particular concentration in mental health and racial inclusion. Komal is also the founder of Insayva Inc., a social enterprise focused on providing accessible DEI and health equity support to charities and non-profit organizations.

Komal has extensive experience in creating and delivering programming in a range of DEI areas, including unconscious bias, cultural competence, mental health inclusion, psychological safety, and allyship. She is passionate about driving transformational change in workplaces and has worked closely with bci clients — corporations, professional services firms, health care providers, and educational institutions — to embed cultures of DEI within their organizations.

Komal has provided one-on-one inclusion coaching to hundreds of senior leaders and brings a unique approach that is informed by her background as a therapist. She is able to expertly handle sensitive conversations and situations and works with leaders to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to advance racial/ethnocultural, gender, and mental health-related equity across teams and organizations. Komal also offers a performance coaching program designed specifically for BIPOC leaders. This program aims to help BIPOC leaders harness their place, position, and identity to thrive in the workplace and beyond. Komal is a qualified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI).

As bci’s Mental Health Expert-in-Residence, Komal offers tremendous expertise around workplace mental health. As a doctoral trained mental health clinician, certified health executive, and registered social worker, Komal has assisted organizations looking to advance employee mental health inclusion and well-being through offering programming on inclusive dialogue, anti-stigma, burnout prevention, psychological safety, resilience, and self-care. Komal is committed to advancing mental health and wellness across the life course; she currently serves on the board of the Alzheimer’s Society of Ontario and previously served on the board of Children’s Mental Health Ontario and the YMCA of Greater Toronto.

When Komal is not working, you’ll find her painting, cooking or snuggling with her cat.