Study: Mental Illness Costs Canada $17.7 Billion Annually

Mental illness is associated with more lost workdays than any other chronic condition and costs the Canadian economy $17.7 billion annually in lost productivity, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) recently announced. New research from CAMH indicates that the strongest predictor for work disability leaves is a person’s past history of occurrences.

A team led by Principal Investigator Dr. Carolyn Dewa, head of CAMH’s Work and Well-being Research and Evaluation Program, evaluated the employment data of more than 10,000 workers from a large Canadian employer and compared several variables to analyze patterns of disability.

The study found that workers who have had a disability leave are more at risk of having another one. Comparing patterns of leave taken due to physical disability with those for mental health disability, data showed that the likelihood of reoccurrence for those with a physical illness doubled while those with mental illness were seven times more likely to reoccur.

There are several possibilities for this disparity. First, mental illness is chronic in nature and relapse is common. Even when symptoms improve there are often persistent effects. Another contributor may be that there are not adequate resources offered to workers to address their mental health needs.

“Often the support and services available to employees when they return to work does not address the chronic nature of mental illness,” Dewa said. “It’s important that employers implement a continuum of care and support — both to help prevent a person from needing to go on leave, as well as to help maintain their mental wellness upon their return to work.”

“The treatment of mental illness can often be complex and may involve more than just the patient and their doctor or therapist,” said Dr. David Goldbloom, CAMH’s senior medical advisor. “Successful management of mental illness involves proper follow-up care and medication, counseling, social support both from loved ones and the workplace, as well as ongoing access to meaningful employment. All these may need to come together in order to get better and stay better.”

Dewa stresses the need for employers to educate themselves and their employees about creating a workplace that promotes mental health. This includes addressing the needs of those with mental health issues in the workplace and encouraging the development of effective interventions for promoting mental health in the working population.

Product Showcase

  • Magid® D-ROC® GPD412 21G Ultra-Thin Polyurethane Palm Coated Work Gloves

    Magid’s 21G line is more than just a 21-gauge glove, it’s a revolutionary knitting technology paired with an advanced selection of innovative fibers to create the ultimate in lightweight cut protection. The latest offering in our 21G line provides ANSI A4 cut resistance with unparalleled dexterity and extreme comfort that no other 21-gauge glove on the market can offer! Read More

  • Safety Knives

    The Safety Knife Company has developed a quality range of safety knives for all industries. Designed so that fingers cannot get to the blades, these knives will safely cut through cardboard, tape, strapping, shrink or plastic wrap or a variety of other packing materials. Because these knives have no exposed blades and only cut cardboard deep, they will not only protect employees against lacerations but they will also save product. The Metal Detectable versions have revolutionary metal detectable polypropylene knife bodies specifically for the food and pharmaceutical industries. This material can be detected and rejected by typical detection machines and is X-ray visible. Read More

  • HAZ LO HEADLAMPS

    With alkaline or rechargeable options, these safety rated, Class 1, Div. 1 Headlamps provide long runtime with both spot and flood options in the same light. Work safely and avoid trip hazards with flexible hands-free lighting from Streamlight. Read More

Featured

Artificial Intelligence

Webinars