The TELUS Mental Health Index is showing that nearly half of all workers surveyed in the 3,000-person study, say they do not have relationships with people they trust at work.
“The lack of trusted relationships is a factor in loneliness, which can lead to lower mental health scores and poorer physical health,” the TELUS researchers write. Overall, 33 per cent of workers surveyed had a high mental health risk, 45 per cent have a moderate mental health risk and 22 per cent are at a low risk of having poor mental health. “At 63.5 (in Canada), the mental health of workers has declined from December 2023,” they write.
Depression and anxiety
They add that approximately 30 per cent of the high-risk group reported diagnosed depression and anxiety. This drops to seven per cent for the moderate-risk group and to just one per cent of workers in the low-risk group.
The survey further found that 15 per cent rate their company’s culture regarding mental health as negative; 21 per cent do not know if their employer provides mental health benefits or not.
Prioritize meaningful social connections
“With the physical and mental impacts of isolation now being discussed more broadly, it would be wise for employers to acknowledge it as a health risk and prioritize meaningful social connections to support employee wellbeing,” says the company’s chief mental health officer, Dr. Matthew Chow.
They add that anxiety and isolation both received the lowest mental health sub-scores for 21 consecutive months. “Since reaching its peak in July 2023, the mental health of workers in Canada has declined to levels in line with lows during the pandemic.”
Regarding trusted relationships, 45 said they lacked trusted relationships at work, a trend that was 40 per cent more prevalent among those under the age of 40.
