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Ontario Chamber of Commerce

Working Toward Mental Wellness a financial perspective, a legal perspective and, most impor-
Public understanding of mental health issues has increased in tantly, a human capital perspective. Without a healthy and
both scope and sophistication over the past decade, includ- productive workforce, organizations across Canada are un-
ing a deeper appreciation for the importance of mental well- able to accomplish their goals or contribute meaningfully to
ness in the workplace. This sea of change has been largely our economy and our communities. Given the importance of
positive, as employees who need treatment a functioning workforce, ensuring good mental health for em-
can now better access the help they need ployees should be top of mind for employ-
with less fear of stigma or penalties, thanks ers.
to employers recognizing the role they play
in supporting the mental health of their Most employers are familiar with common
staff. workplace ailments such as burnout, de-
pression and anxiety. Nevertheless, instead
This change in perception is particularly of being recognized and managed, these
relevant now, as mental health conditions problems are too often misjudged or dis-
in the workplace are being diagnosed with regarded. For most employers, it is easier
greater frequency; disability claims for men- to cope with an employee’s physical injury
tal illness is the fastest growing claim type than a mental one. In too many workplaces
in Canada. The cost of mental illnesses to there is both a lack of knowledge as to how
the Canadian economy is estimated at over to effectively manage the mental health of
$50 billion annually, with $20 billion of that employees and a dearth of resources to
stemming directly from workplace losses. help employers gain that knowledge.
On average, mental health issues cost
businesses almost $1,500 per employee per In the OCC created toolkit (www.occ.ca/
year. wp-content/uploads/Working-Towards-
Mental-Health-Interactive.pdf) the Ontario Chamber of Com-
Undiagnosed, unrecognized and untreated mental health merce (OCC) seeks to illuminate the distinctive character of
problems present an enormous challenge to employers from mental wellness in the workplace, outline the case for action

22 www.cambridgechamber.com
Summer 2018