A study of the occupational health and wellness of 90 Canadian workplaces and their employees indicates a prevalence of mental health issues deemed significant, according to Medavie Blue Cross. 

Medavie, which helped support an extensive study by the Observatoire sur la santé et le mieux-être au travail (OSMET), said the report focused on the health of Canadian workers over a five-year period.

The first part of the study, which ran for two years beginning in mid-April 2019, noted that more than one-in-three individuals reported suffering from psychological distress. As well, women were 27 per cent to 69 per cent more likely to report mental health issues than men. 

The study also noted that those aged 50 and over experienced fewer mental health issues overall, while young employees – those aged 18-34 – were particularly at risk of developing symptoms of depression. 

At least, partly to blame, has been COVID-19.

Pandemic has caused many issues 

“The pandemic has destabilized workers on a professional and personal level, so it will be interesting to observe how a return to normalcy will impact Canadian workers,” said Alain Marchand, director of OSMET and a professor at the Université de Montréal. “Returning to work and seeing your co-workers again will bring its own share of fear and anxiety. With the study beginning before the pandemic, the research will observe the impacts of major changes in work habits, the eventual return to the office and long-term impacts.” 

With employees eventually returning to an office environment, in many instances, employers will need to carefully think about how to best support them in the wake of the pandemic's impact on their health and wellness, particularly their mental health. 

“A wide range of solutions exist to support mental health in the workplace. From employee and family assistance programs, to personalized medicine, internet-enabled cognitive-behavioural therapy (iCBT) and through care provided by mental health professionals such as psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists, each employer can build their own toolbox,” said Marthe Cloutier, Group Plan Advisor at Medavie Blue Cross.