Lost work days from mental illnesses cost Canada $51 billion annually, study says

From Money in Canada:

Mental illness causes more lost work days in Canada than any other condition, costing the economy $51 billion a year in lost productivity, according to a study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

The study found that mental health leave on average costs double that of leave for a physical illness. The cost of a company for one employee on short-term disability due to mental health is nearly $18,000, it said.

"In an average year, a firm with 1,000 employees might expect about 145 disability cases,” said Carolyn Dewa, head of CAMH’s Work and Well-Being Research and Evaluation Programme. “Of this, only a fraction are on disability due to mental illness, yet it costs employers the most."

The study examined data on the short-term disability leave of 33,913 full-time employees. It found that stress, casual and part-time work and uncertain economic conditions were all likely triggers of mental illness.

A separate poll by Desjardins Financial Security found that Canadian workers are feeling increasingly stressed.

About 30% of respondents said they feel more stress than last year. The main cause of concern was insufficient salary, according to 30% of respondents, while 27% cited work overload and 22% said lack of recognition.

Dewa said companies need to pay more attention to mental health in the workplace by emphasizing a healthy work-life balance, providing access

to physical fitness and programmes to manage stress.

"And while it is important to support workers that are on disability leave, it is crucial that businesses make mental health and wellness a priority to prevent disability in the first place."