Overview of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) 2

Session details

Date:

Time:

12:00pm - 1:30pm (Toronto time)

Location:

Zoom videoconferencing

Didactic presentation by:

Vivian Sapirman

Session objectives

At the end of the session, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe the Mental Health Treatment Programs available
  2. Identify the relationship between work and health
  3. Understand the role and function of return-to work-services at WSIB
  4. Recognize the value of early involvement of Return to Work Specialists (RTWS)

Session resources

A guide to guidelines for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in adults: An update
Hamblen JL, Norman SB, Sonis JH, Phelps AJ, Bisson JI, Nunes VD, Megnin-Viggars O, Forbes D, Riggs DS, Schnurr PP. A guide to guidelines for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in adults: An update. Psychotherapy (Chic). 2019 Sep;56(3):359-373. Source: National Centre for PTSD
A Meta-Analysis for the Efficacy of Hypnotherapy in Alleviating PTSD Symptoms
Rotaru TȘ, Rusu A. A Meta-Analysis for the Efficacy of Hypnotherapy in Alleviating PTSD Symptoms. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2016;64(1):116-36. doi: 10.1080/00207144.2015.1099406. Source: PubMed
A Meta-Analysis of Hypnotherapeutic Techniques in the Treatment of PTSD Symptoms
O'Toole SK, Solomon SL, Bergdahl SA. A Meta-Analysis of Hypnotherapeutic Techniques in the Treatment of PTSD Symptoms. J Trauma Stress. 2016 Feb;29(1):97-100. doi: 10.1002/jts.22077. Source: PubMed
A primary care "friendly" cognitive behavioral insomnia therapy
Edinger JD, Sampson WS. A primary care "friendly" cognitive behavioral insomnia therapy. Sleep. 2003 Mar 15;26(2):177-82. doi: 10.1093/sleep/26.2.177. Source: PubMed
Aerobic exercise in the treatment of PTSD: An examination of preclinical and clinical laboratory findings, potential mechanisms, clinical implications, and future directions
Aerobic exercise in the treatment of PTSD: An examination of preclinical and clinical laboratory findings, potential mechanisms, clinical implications, and future directions (2023). Kevin M Crombie, Tom G Adams , Joseph E Dunsmoor, Benjamin N Greenwood, Jasper A Smits, Charles B Nemeroff, Josh M Cisler. DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102680. Source: ScienceDirect
Aerobic Exercise Reduces Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Aerobic Exercise Reduces Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Mathew G Fetzner, Gordon J G Asmundson (2015). Source: Taylor and Francis
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I): A Primer
Walker J, Muench A, Perlis ML, Vargas I. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I): A Primer. Klin Spec Psihol. 2022;11(2):123-137. doi: 10.17759/cpse.2022110208. Source: PubMed
Exercise Intervention in PTSD: A Narrative Review and Rationale for Implementation
Exercise Intervention in PTSD: A Narrative Review and Rationale for Implementation (2019). Nicole J Hegberg, Jasmeet P Hayes, Scott M Hayes. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00133. Source: Frontiers
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Theoretical Model of the Hyperarousal Subtype
Weston CS. Posttraumatic stress disorder: a theoretical model of the hyperarousal subtype. Front Psychiatry. 2014 Apr 4;5:37. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00037. Source: PubMed
Psychosocial treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: a practice-friendly review of outcome research
Solomon SD, Johnson DM. Psychosocial treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: a practice-friendly review of outcome research. J Clin Psychol. 2002 Aug;58(8):947-59. doi: 10.1002/jclp.10069. Source: PubMed
Quiet Your Mind and Get to Sleep: Solutions to Insomnia for Those with Depression, Anxiety, or Chronic Pain
Carney, C.E. & Manber, R. (2009). Quiet Your Mind and Get to Sleep: Solutions to Insomnia for Those with Depression, Anxiety, or Chronic Pain. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger. Source: New Harbinger Publications
Sleep 101
Given the increased understanding of the importance of sleep to both mental and physical health, the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT) has partnered with Dr. Colleen Carney, the Director of the Sleep and Depression Laboratory at Toronto Metropolitan University, to develop a sleep course specifically for PSP. Source: CIPSRT
Sleep 101: Toolkit for public safety personnel
A toolkit for public safety personnel on sleep from the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment Source: CIPSRT
Somatic experiencing - effectiveness and key factors of a body-oriented trauma therapy: a scoping literature review
Kuhfuß M, Maldei T, Hetmanek A, Baumann N. Somatic experiencing - effectiveness and key factors of a body-oriented trauma therapy: a scoping literature review. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2021 Jul 12;12(1):1929023. doi: 10.1080/20008198.2021.1929023. Source: PubMed
The Progressive Goal Attainment Program (PGAP)
In 2000, Dr. Michael Sullivan developed the Progressive Goal Attainment Program (PGAP), a standardized risk-targeted behavioural activation intervention designed to reduce psychosocial risk factors for delayed recovery. PGAP was the first intervention to focus on the reduction of pain-related psychosocial risk factors as a means of promoting recovery following musculoskeletal injury. Source: McGill University
The Progressive Goal Attainment Program (PGAP®)
The PGAP is an empirically supported intervention that has been shown to reduce disability and contribute to successful return-to-work in individuals suffering from a wide range of debilitating health and mental health conditions. Source: PGAPWorks
What is somatic therapy?
Somatic therapy explores how the body expresses deeply painful experiences, applying mind-body healing to aid with trauma recovery. Source: Harvard Health Publishing

About presenter

Dr. Vivian Sapirman is a Psychiatrist in Toronto. She is the Mental Health Physician Lead at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and a Medical Advisor at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). She is also a physician in the Department of Psychiatry at Women’s College Hospital, where she has a focus on medical psychiatry.

Prior to joining the CPSO, Sapirman held a number of leadership roles in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto (U of T), including Postgraduate Site Director for Women’s College Hospital and Resident Remediation Coordinator. Sapirman completed her undergraduate medical training at McMaster University and her residency in psychiatry at U of T.

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