Experion member Julie Holden did a presentation on Disability Management Strategies and Workplace Mental Health on October 21, 2019. She explained that mental illness is the leading cause of disability at work and affects some seven million Canadians. Also, in any given week, 500,000 Canadians are suffering from depression and anxiety disorder and are unable to go to work.

Julie said that the term ‘psychological injury’ is relatively new but something employers should be aware of. Workplace mental illness in Canada is costing organizations $20 billion a year in lost productivity, employee turnover and other factors. What is needed, she said, is more investment by employers in the whole area of workplace mental health. In fact, for every dollar invested Julie said the Return On Investment is about $4.

Julie outlined various signs that something may be amiss. This can include everything from repeated doctors’ notes to ever-rising costs for benefits. She added that organizations with a psychologically healthy workplace have a continuous cycle of engaging employees in a process of protecting and promoting the health and safety of everyone in the organization, with a focus on such aspects as work-life integration, open communication, mutual respect and clear expectations. The key is to embed psychological health and safety into the workplace in the same way we have done with physical health and safety, with leadership support and involvement.