One in 10 Canadians say they have left or have considered leaving a job over lack of mental health support
Mental health still not a safe workplace topic, trust in employers among top reason
Even while the majority of the country's workforce (62%) says emotional, mental and physical fatigue is the top issue affecting them negatively, a third of Canadians (37%) feel unsafe to talk about mental health at work. Lack of trust in their employer was among the top reasons (55%), with embarrassment (50%) and fear of discrimination following closely behind (40%). The survey also found that one in 10 working Canadians have left (11%) or have considered leaving their job (10%) due to a lack of employer mental health support. Additionally, only 22% said their CEO or manager had talked about mental health in the last 12 months.
"Companies across the country are considering their future of work plans, but Canadians have said – loud and clear – it's the future of our workforce we must consider," says
Leaders and employee resources key as part of comprehensive mental health strategy
Ahead of World Mental Health Day, Sun Life calls on Canadian companies to join them in a commitment to further invest in a workplace mental health strategy.
"Everyone deserves to feel safe at work and be their authentic selves. That starts with employers investing in workplace mental health to help build a more resilient
Three easy actions companies can take to curb the crisis
Review your company's mental health benefits – Evaluate current mental health benefits, including whether employees have access to free online resources, employee assistance programs and adequate benefits coverage so they can seek care.
Take advantage of free resources – Don't know where to start? There are many free resources, such as Sun Life's free, digital mental health strategy toolkit, which guides employers through the fundamentals of developing a comprehensive workplace strategy – whether they're a small, medium or large business. Companies can also share
Commit to talking about mental health at work – Leaders who speak openly about mental health at work can help cultivate a safe space for dialogue and encourage employees to take action. For help getting the conversation started, try Sun Life's free manager training videos.
About the survey
The survey is based on findings of an Ipsos poll conducted
About Sun Life
Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including
Note to editors: All figures in Canadian dollars
Media Relations Contact:
Director, Corporate Communications
T. 647.221.8283
nadine.jahangir@sunlife.com
SOURCE
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