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Send this to a friend Print-friendly version Depression and anxiety Canadian Mental Health Association, Newfoundland and Labrador Division Best advice on stress risk management in the workplace: part 1 Past Articles Subscribe to our Healthlink newsletter

hen it comes to serious stress, it's probably no surprise that, more and more, Canadians view their workplace as a major contributor. In fact, half of us now feel this way- up from 39% in 1997, when the previous survey of Canadian Mental Health was conducted. What may be surprising is that our attitudes towards workplace stress have changed dramatically. Today, job-related stress is not necessarily seen as a bad thing and employers are praised for dealing with it more effectively than they did four years ago.

These are some of the findings from the 2001 Canadian Mental Health Survey conducted by COMPAS on behalf of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). The survey shed light, not only on Canadians' shifting attitudes towards workplace stress and depression, but also on their views about communication and coping mechanisms.

Depression crosses all boundaries of age, gender, education, economic and social status. It will affect nearly 3 million Canadians at some time in their life and it most often affects people in their working years. People with depression often want to hide what they are going through, but they will try hardest to mask their illness in the workplace. For all these reasons, there is increasing focus on alleviating stress and supporting those with depression in the workplace.

As the 2001 survey demonstrates, stress levels vary. For instance, 25% of respondents said that work and their workplace is a major source of stress and anxiety, while another 38% identified work as a moderate source of stress.

The good news is that Canadians are now more inclined to view workplace stress in a positive way. This is a dramatic change from 1997 when job-related stress was viewed more negatively. Today, 41% of respondents said that the amount of stress they face in their workplace has had a positive impact on their performance - up from 30% 4 years ago. Stress in manageable portions gives people the energy and motivation to meet demanding deadlines. In addition, people are prompted to balance the effects of stress with greater attention to exercise and overall physical well-being. Meanwhile, 34% reported that their workplace stress has had a negative impact on their job performance - down from 42% in 1997.

The survey showed that employers are showing greater sensitivity to stress. Some 60% of Canadians said that their bosses are effective in dealing with stress in the workplace - up from just 44% in 1997. For instance, some employers provide workshops that teach employees how to cope with stress. Other ways in which management is adapting to the occurrence of workplace stress include addressing ways to deal with stress in the company policy and allowing mental health, as well as sick, days.

This evolution reflects our society's deeper understanding of the nature of stress and depression. We know, for instance, that stress is caused by both the good and the bad things that happen to us. There is also wider awareness that depression is an illness, not a weakness, and that it can be treated.

			How serious is depression?
			The Statistics for Depressive Mood Disorders in Canada Depression will strike one woman in every four, one man in every eight. More than 6 million Canadians have or will suffer from a depressive disorder. These percentages appear to have risen sharply since the 1960's. Worldwide, depression is the fourth leading cause of disease burden. By 2020, it is expected that unipolar depression will be the leading cause of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY) for both males and females throughout the developing world. Depression is a surprisingly expensive disorder. More than 55% of the costs of depression are borne through the workplace. In Canada, the annual cost is estimated to run well over $12 billion. Depression is the leading cause of suicide. The vast majority of people who attempt or complete suicide are actively ill at the time with a form of depression. More than 4,000 Canadians die from suicide every year, making depression-driven suicide the ninth leading cause of death. Only about one in every three people who have depression will ever seek proper help. This is due to the stigma, to lack of knowledge and awareness, and to the fear with which mental illnesses are held in our culture. Between 80 and 90% of people with clinical depression can be effectively treated with today's medications and psychotherapies. This is an extremely high success rate for any major illness.

When it comes to dealing with stress, Canadians appear to prefer exercise and meditation/relaxation over talking and other forms of stress relief. In fact, 40% of respondents said they turned to these coping methods, as compared to 28% 4 years ago.

The survey also showed a trend toward greater secrecy about depression counselling, with 42% of respondents indicating a willingness to tell their bosses, compared to 49% in 1992.

In the areas of both stress and depression counselling, there appears to be a correlation between the desire to let bosses know and the desire to let friends know. Females are more willing than males to let friends know if they or one of their family members were getting counselling for depression - 60% of women compared to 41% of men.

The growing unwillingness to reveal problems with stress or depression is a worrying trend. Along with other coping methods, such as physical activity and looking for a solution to your problems, talking about the difficulties that are causing your stress is an important way of reducing the tension that prevents you from making decisions.

People with depression are often very reluctant to share their problems, particularly in the workplace. Fear of being reprimanded, dismissed or stigmatized, combined with feelings of shame, result in a debilitating silence. It is important to know that help can make a difference - 4 out of 5 people with depression can be successfully treated. The first important step is communication. An excellent document about disclosure of mental illness in the workplace can be found in the CMHA National.

The 2001 Canadian Mental Health Survey showed that many Canadians no longer view stress as an overwhelmingly negative aspect of their work day. Yet, they display a growing reluctance to communicate serious problems with stress or depression.

Learning more can equip you to recognize when stress or depression is affecting your everyday life. Read about coping strategies and, most importantly, know that there is help available.

There are many resources to help us identify and cope with stress and depression. The CMHA's "Coping with Stress" mini web site, for instance, offers in-depth information and tips, while our interactive stress test lets you measure your stress levels.

Visit CMHA's Emerging Into Light Gallery where we celebrate resilience and recovery with stories and artwork by people living with mental illness.