A shooting that saw four guards shot more than two years ago is prompting an online campaign to introduce mandatory mental health support in the workplace.
It was a June, 2012 morning that turned tragic at HUB Mall on the University of Alberta campus – where four G4S guards were shot and three of them killed – and it was difficult for many to come to terms with, especially the co-workers of the victims.
Convicted in the shootings was Travis Baumgartner, a former G4S employee himself – now, his union membership form is posted as a reminder for Teamsters Local 362 Vice-President Wayne Garner.
“It reminds me every day that you know we have to do something,” Garner said.
“The nature of what Travis did was shocking.”
Now, the union that represents G4S workers is launching a campaign to push for better mental health supports in the workplace.
“There’s a [stigma] out there where people quite frankly aren’t comfortable in talking if they’re hurt from [the neck] up,” Garner said.
The campaign features powerful videos designed to get people in any and all workplaces talking about mental health – asking the federal government to make support and training mandatory at companies across Canada.
“Hopefully if they’re suffering there’s a mechanism there for them to get help,” Garner said. “I would say that there is, but hopefully they have the courage to reach out and say ‘I need help’.”
There are eight videos that will be released on the Teamsters Local 362 website in the next few weeks, featuring interviews with current and former employees – all launching on Monday, December 15.
With files from Amanda Anderson
