Prioritizing mental health and safety
Leanne White has been a dedicated member of Oak Valley Health for more than 16 years. From the frontlines, to charge nurse, a clinical leader, and now the patient care manager for inpatient mental health, her work has always been grounded in compassion for her patients and staff.
Driven by a deep commitment to mental health advocacy, her goal is to create a safe and caring environment for patients and staff.
“Mental illness affects everyone. It doesn’t discriminate, and as we talk about it more now, we know it can impact anyone at any time,” Leanne emphasizes. “Mental wellness is integral to overall health, and we must be reminded daily. Until you walk in someone’s shoes, you can’t fully understand their experience.”
With one in four people in York Region affected by mental illness, higher than the national average, safety and mental wellness go hand-in-hand for Leanne. She prioritizes staff safety and violence prevention, actively engaging with her night shift teams, responding to emergencies like code whites, and ensuring staff are trained and comfortable working in acute areas like the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) – an area dedicated to the highest level of nursing care and observation.
Within her unit and across the organization, Leanne stresses a safe environment can be created when violence prevention remains a priority. Key practices include understanding and learning about patients and their needs, evaluating care environments, and conducting risk assessments to effectively communicate valuable information to staff regarding potentially violent patients. By making use of duress tags and maintaining readiness to respond swiftly to emergent situations, teams can remain well-prepared at all times. These measures collectively contribute to creating a secure and supportive health care environment, ensuring high-quality care comes first.
“As a community hospital, patients and staff rely on us to have a good health care experience and provide a safe environment is part of that. Having a systemic response process, offering training and having preventative measures in place, supports an environment of physical and psychological safety,” she says. “It’s a responsibility shared across all staff levels to uphold these standards and stay informed about available supports. Post-pandemic has shown the importance of safety on many levels, and when in a position of requiring services, it is our responsibility to ensure we provide a safe space.”
Education and skill development are central to Leanne’s approach, focusing on crisis intervention and violence de-escalation to enhance workplace safety organization-wide. Beyond the work and dedication to her unit, she advocates for a healthy work-life balance among her staff, and building a supportive working environment, noting delivering exceptional care starts with staff safety and morale.
Leanne emphasizes that in high-risk environments, incidents of violence or aggression are not uncommon and may occur. When faced with challenging events, it is crucial not to dismiss them but to reflect and learn together.
“We care for patients at their most vulnerable, across all areas of our organization. Effectively managing crises in these moments enables us to prevent and address issues promptly, reducing workplace violence and enhancing safety for both staff and patients. This approach also helps us identify opportunities for process improvements,” she says.
Leanne adds part of creating a safe space for patients and staff is practicing the universal language of kindness.
“We never know what people are going through or what can be affecting their day, but kindness is a language that everyone understands,” she says. “It’s important to know managers, the occupational health team, wellness leaders and your peers are here to help. Staff are never alone, and patients will always be cared for.”
When Leanne is not in the mental health unit or responding to a code white, she cherishes time with her family and beloved labradoodle, Layla, often enjoying walks, beach visits, and relaxing in the backyard.
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