At some point in our lives, we are all affected by mental illness, whether through personal experience or that of a family member, friend, neighbour or colleague. Mental health conditions can have a significant impact on individuals, but they can also “trickle up” to have a detrimental effect on workplaces, communities, the economy and society at large – no one remains untouched. It is therefore vital that support for mental health be multi-faceted and every bit as prevalent as the conditions it seeks to address.
Stigma remains a major barrier to care for those living with a mental illness, many of whom are receiving, and benefiting from, care and support from their families.
This edition of the Vanier Institute of the Family Statistical Snapshots series explores mental health, families and work – three key parts of our lives that intersect and interact in complex ways that affect our well-being.
Highlights include:
- 4 in 10 Canadians have a family member with a mental health problem.
- At least 500,000 employed Canadians are unable to work due to mental health problems in any given week.
- Mental illness accounts for an estimated 30% of all disability claims and 70% of disability costs.
- Stigma remains an issue, with 1 in 5 surveyed Canadian employees saying they believe that whether or not someone becomes mentally ill is “fully within their control.”
- 4 in 10 surveyed Canadian employees say they would not tell their manager if they were experiencing a mental health problem.
- More than 7 in 10 Canadians who are affected by a family member’s mental health problem provided care to them, and 68% say they are not embarrassed about their family member’s mental health condition.
Download A Snapshot of Workplace Mental Health from the Vanier Institute of the Family.
