Get Real Exhibit Highlights Mental Health in the Post-COVID Workplace
As organizations continue to recover from the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent community exhibit brought important conversations about workplace wellness to the forefront.
The Get Real photovoice project, coordinated by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit through the Superior Mental Wellness @ Work Advisory Group, was on display at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery and featured stories and photographs from 37 individuals across northwestern Ontario. The exhibit offered an honest, compelling look into the mental health experiences of employees from a wide range of workplaces.
Participants were invited to answer one of two questions: “How do you really feel at work?” or “How do you take care of your mental health at work?” Their responses, captured through images and words, reflected the realities, struggles, and resilience of people navigating mental wellness in professional environments.
Since its launch in 2017, Get Real has traveled to over 40 workplaces and conferences. This year’s showing was particularly meaningful in the context of post-pandemic recovery, as employers and workers continue to address the psychological effects of stress, isolation, and change. Findings from a local survey, conducted in partnership with Lakehead University’s EPID@Work Research Institute, showed that mental health stigma in the workplace has increased since COVID-19—yet employers are also more invested in supporting mental wellness, with burnout and chronic stress now key concerns.
The exhibit ran until April 29, 2025, at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery’s Public Program Studio and was free to attend.
Although the in-person exhibit has closed, Get Real remains available as a mobile and digital exhibit for organizations interested in fostering dialogue and promoting mental health in their own workplaces.
🔗 To access workplace mental health resources, visit the Thunder Bay District Health Unit website.
