Health/Wellness
Mental health a taboo issue in the workplaceTo officially launch National Mental Health Week (May 7-13), the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and Desjardins Financial Security released a study that shows that mental health continues to be a taboo issue in the workplace. |
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 [ 2007-05-09 ] |
The study found that only 34% of employees report having readily access to services and tools at work to help with mental health issues.
51% UNCERTAIN
The study found that many employers, supervisors and employees are uncertain how to manage or help colleagues experiencing a mental health issue. Just over half (51%) of employees who learned that their co-worker had a mental health issue turned to no one about it for information or support. Only 8% of employees turned to their immediate supervisor, while only 7% turned to an EAP program.
The silence surrounding mental health in the workplace is particularly alarming considering how prevalent the issue is at work. Approximately 43% of Canadians have had a colleague who has had a mental health issue and 34% have had a co-worker leave work for a period of time because of a mental health issue. Interestingly, 74% of those respondents noted that their colleague never came back to work.
The uncertainty on how to handle mental health issues continues even after an employee returns from a leave. The study found that 57% of respondents noted that their workplace provided no preparation to facilitate their colleagues' return to work after being on a leave because of a mental health issue.
Some businesses are starting to respond to mental health issues in the workplace.
"We are on the cusp of some major changes," says Glenn Thompson, CEO of CMHA, National. "Businesses are beginning to recognize that this issue has economic implications. Particularly given the competitive labour market, it's in an employer's best interests to start investing now in policies, education programs and ultimately a culture that supports employees' mental health."
CMHA offers the following tips to employers to help create a workplace that supports mental health:
- Train managers on how to encourage work-life balance and how to manage colleagues with mental health issues.
- Educate employees about workplace policies and programs available to promote mental health.
- Establish flexible hours to help employees balance responsibilities at home and work.
- Encourage staff to stay home with sick children or elderly relatives when necessary.
- Create a method to track employees' satisfaction with their work-life balance.
- Reintroduce employees who have been on leave because of a mental health issue gradually.
CMHA has created a program, called Mental Health Works, which provides training and resources to managers and employers to help them address mental health issues in the workplace.
According to the Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health, mental illness is costing Canadian businesses $14 billion each year. "Ignoring the problem certainly isn't going to make it go away," Thompson says.
As part of its public education campaign, the CMHA will be providing information, tips and tools for Canadians about the importance of mental health and in particular, how to promote mental health in the workplace.
"One thing that companies should regularly promote to their employees is the EAP (Employee Assistance Program) program and the services they provide," says Alain Thauvette from Desjardins Financial Security. "Employees should know more about these services so that they feel comfortable to use them when the need arises."
INTEGRATE MENTAL HEALTH
"While many companies are doing an excellent job at providing wellness programs, few are integrating mental health into those programs," said Dr. Irvin Wolkoff, a psychiatrist in private practice in Toronto, and a commentator on mental health.
"For this issue to truly be addressed, it cannot all fall on the shoulders of employers. Supervisors and employees all need to be part of the solution and help create an open and supportive environment at work that makes mental health a priority."
To find more information about mental health or to take a Work-Life Balance Quiz, visit www.cmha.ca.
To view Desjardins Financial Security's Health is Cool! book, visit www.desjardinsfinancialsecurity.com/cool.
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