Mental health issues account for more lost workdays than any other chronic condition and cost the Canadian economy $51 billion annually in lost productivity, according to a recent report.
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s (CAMH) Journal of Environmental Medicine looked at data tracking the short-term disability (STD) leave of 33,913 full-time employees in Ontario. It found that the actual cost of mental health leave, on average, is double the cost of leave for physical illness. In fact, a single employee on STD leave due to mental health concerns costs a company nearly $18,000.
“In an average year, a firm with 1,000 employees might expect about 145 disability cases,” says Dr. Carolyn Dewa, head of CAMH’s work and well-being research and evaluation program and lead investigator for the study. “Of this, only a fraction are on disability due to mental illness, yet it costs employers the most.”
Dewa adds that health and wellness interventions may hold the key to maintaining a healthy workforce and reducing costs.
“We know that mental health triggers in the workplace can lead to disability—things like stress, casual and part-time work, and uncertain economic conditions can really take a toll on workers—especially if there is a pre-existing mental health condition,” she says. “And while it is important to support workers who are on disability leave, it is crucial that businesses make mental health and wellness a priority to prevent disability in the first place.”
Dewa suggests that implementing a continuum of care and support is an effective way of reducing the likelihood that an employee has to take a disability leave. Programs emphasizing a healthy work/life balance, supports to help cope with stress and access to physical fitness make people better workers and help sustain health.
