Study Shows Canadian Workers Continue to Struggle with Mental Health | The Canadian News

A new study shows that Canadians are reporting increased stress in the workplace, namely young people, parents and managers.

The Mental Health Index study was conducted by LifeWorks and surveyed 3,000 people between October 6 and 12 who are currently employed or were in the past six months.

The study found that 24 percent of those surveyed reported that their work has harmed their mental health, and 20 percent of workers reported feeling in crisis or having concerns about their ability to cope.

Paula Allen, LifeWorks Global leader and senior vice president of research and total wellness, said there is still work to be done to improve mental health in the workplace.

“I think we are realizing that the transition back to the way it was probably won’t happen exactly the way it was. Right now, people have been more autonomous than before, ”Allen said.

Allen added that it’s key for employers to show empathy for the disrupted situation, show flexibility, and make sure employees know they are valued.

Research also shows that younger Canadians, parents, and managers are experiencing those concerns at a disproportionate rate.

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Saskatchewan director of advocacy, research and development, Rebecca Rackow, and senior consultant Dave Nelson say managers may be dealing with more stress due to change.

“We suspect that has a lot to do with changing policies and changes in the environment, things like vaccination requirements … and having to convey that to staff,” Rackow said.

Nelson added that some staff members who are not vaccinated may need additional testing for COVID-19, which could also create stress.

“That’s just one thing overall, almost two years now that the pandemic has been disrupting just about everything and the stress is piling up, and I think it logically extends to the workplace as well,” Nelson said.

As for younger workers struggling with their mental health, both Rackow and Nelson suggested that they could be parents still dealing with e-learning or people working entry-level jobs, perhaps on the front lines.

The study also revealed that respondents reported that their employment relationships have deteriorated since the pandemic began. Of those surveyed, 10 percent reported that their experiences with coworkers have not been positive since the start of the pandemic.

Although Canadian workers are very efficient now, whether they work from home, the office, or in a hybrid situation, Allen said the study shows that efficiency came at a cost last month.

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“This month we actually saw a worsening of relationships between employees and their managers and also between colleagues,” Allen said.

“One of the things that we have to realize is that that is not necessarily driven by negative things and conflicts and things that automatically come to mind. It’s only the absence of positive experiences that causes relationships to deteriorate. “

Terri Peterson, clinical counseling leader at the USask Student Wellness Center, said pressure will affect people at different stages of development differently.

“Because some stages of development actually already have a lot of pressure on them. Some of them, like the young adult stage, generally get a lot of support and social connection through that stage and that has not always been possible, “explained Peterson.

Peterson added that changing work situations, such as moving from remote to hybrid work or returning to the office, can also add stress.

Peterson said that many employees are still concerned about their health, as COVID-19 is still around.

She thinks this is part of why workplace dynamics are affected.

“When people don’t see each other regularly, it can be easy to narrow down or misinterpret or have that miscommunication, probably with managers and expectations, but also with each other when we don’t see the whole person,” Peterson said. .

“It’s really easy to let the little things turn into bigger things and disrupt our ability to feel safe or connected.”

Allen said that employers really need to put the mental health of their employees first.

“We are beginning to see the impact on productivity. We were very efficient the last time, but that efficiency is really challenged right now because people feel drained and they don’t feel connected to their workplaces, ”Allen said.

Allen added that it is important for employers to focus on developing a sense of belonging, ensuring that employees have a positive work experience wherever they are, and making sure employees are aware of the mental health supports that are available to them.

Peterson added that coping strategies that were working in the short term are probably not working as well now.

“Some of us use coping things that we can’t just keep using, and then we figured out how I can cope, how I can give myself a break but also meet the requirements of my job,” Peterson said.

He added that employees who are feeling burned out should talk to their managers and find out what kind of support they need.

“We are in this secondary pandemic, which many people have called a secondary mental health pandemic. And if we don’t identify with each other, if we don’t support each other to find new ways to cope, then it will just collapse more and more, ”Peterson said.