Mental health distress from work regularly affects 6.5 million Canadian workers
OTTAWA -- Inflexible, unsupportive workplaces, work without much meaning, and jobs that don’t pay the bills are key factors causing regular mental distress to about 6.5 million Canadian workers, according to a poll commissioned by the Douglas Caldwell Layton Foundation.
Last month, the Douglas Coldwell Layton Foundation commissioned Abacus Data to conduct a national survey of 2,000 working Canadians to explore the impact that working conditions and personal finances have on mental health. The survey explored how Canadians feel about their own mental health, what workplace factors most impact self-assessed mental health, and the role unions play in mitigating negative workplace experiences.
Overall, 47 per cent of working Canadians, representing about 10 million people, report their mental health is less than good.
The poll of 2,000 working Canadians, conducted by Abacus Research last month, found nearly all Canadian workers surveyed have experienced mental distress due to work. Among those experiencing distress “occasionally”:
More concerning, 33 per cent of respondents, or about 6.5 million working Canadians, say on a regular basis they experience one or more of these forms of distress. Among all workers, 43 per cent said the problem is growing worse. Only 21 per cent said things are getting better.
The survey tested a wide range of workplace factors possibly causing distress, including difficult physical working conditions, poor equipment and demanding work. The factors most closely linked to mental health distress from work were:
Mental health distress from work is particularly intense among office workers. Those working with patients, students, clients or customers in front line jobs and those in on-site jobs, such as construction or manufacturing, were less likely to experience regular mental health distress from work.
“Our research shows millions of workers are struggling with their mental health today and it’s getting worse. That’s deeply concerning.'' said Josh Bizjak, Executive Director of the Douglas Caldwell Layton Foundation. “It’s simply not enough to talk about mental health, we must identify sources and find solutions to this mounting social and economic crisis - employers and policy makers need to take responsibility and play an active role.”
Click here to read the full report from the first phase of our original research on Mental Health and Wellness in the Workplace.
We have some very important information to share and it is my sincere desire that you will read through to the end of this post and learn about an important project we’ve undertaken to bring awareness to a major problem our country is facing in our healthcare system, and to help bring proposed solutions to the attention of policy makers in our work to defend public healthcare.
From all of us at the Foundation, we wish you a joyful Pride month filled with celebration and love. As we celebrate queer love, joy and success we must also take the time to reflect on the history that has led us to where we are today.
In advance of the event “Trends in Social Democracy” a survey was conducted to test the feelings of BC Voters on issues of concern and solutions offered by Social Democracy as it relates to the upcoming provincial election.
From May 6 to 9, 2024, Abacus Data conducted a survey of 1,000 eligible voters in British Columbia exploring their views on provincial politics and government.
These are the findings:
