WorkSafe Saskatchewan is holding a virtual psychological health and safety in the workplace learning event Thursday.

One of the presentations is hosted by Mary Ann Baynton, who will lead a session titled “Stress, Work and a Pandemic.

Baynton says she used a unique way to come up with her presentation topic.

“We surveyed the WorkSafe Saskatchewan members and asked them what the biggest challenges were for them right now through COVID — both at work as well as in their personal life,” Baynton said. “It was quite interesting because they responded with not just the stressors they have for themselves, but many of them are concerned about supporting others.”

Baynton says people are stressed and anxious about COVID-19 while at work, and that’s a normal reaction.

“I keep saying that although there’s talk about the echo-mental health pandemic, that being stressed, anxious (and) uncertain about a life-altering pandemic is quite a normal response to this unprecedented situation.”

Baynton says she wants people to know we are not falling apart due to the impact of COVID-19.

“People actually are amazingly resilient, amazingly compassionate and caring about others that we are learning to be innovative,” Baynton said. “We are learning to find a way to make the best of a bad situation just like humans have done in life-altering events throughout the ages.”

The Workers’ Compensation Board in Saskatchewan says they have accepted over 200 mental health claims so far this year.