The March 2025 reading of the TELUS Mental Health Index shows that more than one third of workers feel anxious, one in three feel isolated and one in three do not have emergency savings to cover basic needs. The research also finds that more than one quarter, 28 per cent say their mental health is adversely impacting work productivity.
“Anxiety and isolation have been the lowest mental health sub-scores for three years,” the firm’s researchers write. “More than one-third of workers feel overwhelmed by their responsibilities with disproportionate concern among younger workers and parents.” (The March 2025 report examines the concerns parents have in some detail.)
Other findings include: 49 per cent of workers say financial concerns are a source of personal stress while 29 per cent of workers say health and medical concerns are a source of stress. The report also looks at personal expectations and lifestyle goals (fitness, weight loss), housing, financial management, stress management and relationships.
High workload is cited as a stressor by 30 per cent of those surveyed, 19 per cent of workers say insufficient resources and support is a source of work stress, and 18 per cent say job insecurity is a source of stress. “The mental health score of 18 per cent of workers citing job insecurity as a source of stress is 25 points lower than workers reporting no work stress and more than 12 points lower than the national average,” they state.
By province, Quebec had the lowest mental health score of 61.2 in March 2025; Manitoba had the highest mental health score of 65.4 during the same period. The finance and insurance industries reported a 0.4 point decline from the beginning of 2025 to 63.4 at the end of March.
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