The overall health of a workplace includes both the physical and psychological well-being of its workers. By treating mental health and its psychological component equally with the physical environment, a workplace can support their workers' overall well-being. Poor mental health not only hurts the individual, it also reduces corporate profits.
As the World Health Organization states it, “mental health is more than just the absence of mental disorders or disabilities.” It is a “state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”
- 21.4% of the working population in Canada currently experience mental health conditions, which can affect their productivity.
- Mental health conditions account for approximately 30% of short- and long-term disability claims and are rated one of the top three drivers of such claims by more than 80% of Canadian employers.
- 47% of working Canadians agree that their work is the most stressful part of their day.
- 1 in 5 Canadians (7 millions) will experience a mental illness annually, yet only half, 1 in 10 Canadians, use health services for mood and anxiety disorders each year.
- By age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have had a mental illness.
- Schizophrenia affects 1% of the Canadian population.
- About 1% of Canadians will experience bipolar disorder (or “manic depression”).
- By 2020, the World Health Organization estimates that depressive illnesses will become the second leading cause of disease burden worldwide and the leading cause in developed countries like Canada
- “Mood and anxiety disorders impact an estimated 22% of the Canadian population.” (Canadian Mental Health Association)
- “60% of people with mental health problems or illness won’t seek help for fear of being labeled.” (Mental Health Commission of Canada)
- 70% of mental health problems have their onset during childhood or adolescence.
- The leading cause of disability in Canada is mental illness.
- Chances of having a mental illness in your lifetime in Canada: 1 in 5.8
- Chances of having a mental illness or a substance use disorder in your lifetime in Canada: 1 in 3
- At any given time, percentage of Canadians who have a mental illness: 10.4%
- Percentage of people who die by suicide and who had a diagnosable mental illness: 90%
- The percentage of people experiencing a major depression who do not receive adequate care: 50%
- Sources: https://mdsc.ca/docs/MDSC_Quick_Facts_4th_Edition_EN.pdf