An article published in today's edition of The Globe and Mail:
Mental illness costs the Canadian economy a staggering $51-billion annually. That number includes:
- $5-billion in direct medical costs
- $9.3-billion in lost productivity due to short-term sick leave
- $8.5-billion in lost productivity due to long-term disability
The World Health Organization estimates that by 2020, depression will be the leading cause of disability on the planet. Employers see the impact of mental illness every day:
- $28-billion is attributed to "reductions in health-related quality of life" - a method used to put a dollar figure on pain and suffering.
- 500,000 Canadians daily are absent from work because of psychiatric and psychological problems.
- 40 per cent of all disability claims, short-term and long-term, involve mental-health conditions.
- 18 per cent of workers in Canada have had a diagnosis of clinical depression.
- 8 per cent of workers currently on the job are taking drugs for a mental-health condition.
Sources: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health; Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace; World Health Organization
- 6 per cent of all workers are under the care of a physician for treatment of a psychiatric or psychological condition.
Also see:
When the office gives back
Breaking Through
