MENTAL HEALTH

  21.4% of the working population in Canada currently experience mental health conditions, which can affect their productivity.

Mental health is a state of well-being in which a person understands his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to their community. 

When the demands placed on someone exceed their resources and coping abilities, their mental health will be negatively affected."  Certain features of the workplace can affect employees’ mental and physical health. These include demoralization, depressed mood, anxiety, burnout, etc. These factors increase the likelihood that an individual will experience increased stress, which in turn increases the likelihood of developing or worsening a mental disorder. 

Psychological health problems can range widely, from mild psychological difficulties such as low mood, sleep difficulties, or excessive worry to severe psychological disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe depression. 

Because milder psychological health problems are far more common in the workplace, they account for a larger percentage of the negative impacts on employees and employers. Mental distress that has not reached the level of a diagnosable mental disorder can still be a source of considerable suffering. 

It is possible that workplace factors may increase the likelihood of the occurrence of a mental disorder, make an existing disorder worse, and impede effective treatment and rehabilitation. On the other hand, a supportive work environment can reduce the onset, severity, impact and duration of a mental health disorder.