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October 3, 2007

Canada Post chooses mental health as its corporate cause of choice

Ottawa - Canada Post announced today during Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) that it will champion mental health in the workplace in response to the growing personal and public cost to Canada from the issue. In adopting mental health as the company's cause-of-choice, Canada Post will work to raise awareness of the issue and urge businesses and government to do more to tackle it.

It is estimated that 20 per cent of Canadians will suffer from a mental illness at some time in their lives. The remaining 80 per cent will be affected by the mental illness of a family member, friend or colleague. (Source: Health Canada)

"We saw a real need to lead the way in bringing the issue of mental illness out into the open. Although mental illness affects all of us, you'll have trouble getting people to talk about it and despite the substantial cost to their business, even companies are reluctant to tackle the issue," said Moya Greene, President and CEO, Canada Post. "Mental illness and mental health have been neglected in Canada for far too long. It is time mental well-being is positioned prominently within both health and social policies. This company, and its employees are bold enough to bring this issue out of the darkness, from behind closed doors and into the public light where it can best be served."

The growing phenomenon of workplace depression could cost the Canadian economy some $30-billion a year, not including treatment and healthcare costs, with $8 to $10-billion of that being due to absenteeism. Statistics show that approximately half-a-million Canadians are absent from work each week due to mental health problems. More than 35 per cent of work absences in Canada are caused by mental illness. Additionally, 30 to 40 per cent of disability claims are for mental illness and, by 2010, depression is forecast to become second only to cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of disability in the world. (Source: Mental Health Foundation and World Health Organization)

"By openly supporting this cause, Canada Post is showing it's prepared to do more than just 'talk the talk,' said Phil Upshall, national executive director of the Mood Disorders Society of Canada and founding member of the Canadian Alliance for Mental Illness and Mental Health. "The issue is well understood by many Canadian corporate leaders, but financial and other support goes elsewhere because of the stigma of mental illness. We need to admit that mental illness exists, and we need to talk about it and advocate for change. Canada Post employees can be very proud of their leadership in this area."

Industry research reveals a primary cause of long-term disability is depression and anxiety. Canada Post's own drug utilization pattern shows that medications related to depression are the third most commonly prescribed drugs.

Canada Post is pushing the mental health agenda through a variety of activities. As one of its first commitments in its pledge to support mental health, Canada Post has chosen to become the Platinum Plus sponsor of Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW). This annual national public education campaign takes place from September 30 to October 6 and is designed to show Canadians the human cost of mental illness and how it can be effectively treated.

In Canada 3.5 million people suffer from severe stress, with more than six in 10 Canadians reporting they experience a 'great deal of stress' on the job. People who experience excessive workplace stress are five times more likely to say they have been ill as a result. Chronic stress can result in long-term health issues such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, as well as depression and psychological disorders. Given the incidence of workplace stress and the impact thereof, Canada Post has developed its own national campaign Address Your Stress -- Know it. Understand it. Manage it (www.canadapost.ca/addressyourstress)that will encourage Canadians to look at their stress levels, with a particular focus on workplace stress. October 3 has been identified as national Address Your Stress Day in this first-of-its kind campaign.

About Canada Post

Canada Post delivers over 11 billion pieces of mail each year to 14 million destinations. Its 60,000 employees and 7,000 post offices - the largest retail network in the country - serve 32 million Canadians and over 1 million businesses and public institutions from coast to coast to coast. In 2006, net income for Canada Post and its affiliates, which include Purolator Courier Ltd., Progistix-Solutions Inc. and Innovapost (jointly owned by Canada Post and CGI), was CDN$ 119 million on revenues of CDN$ 7.3 billion. Canada Post is a world leader, providing innovative physical and electronic delivery solutions, creating value for our customers, employees and Canadians. Website: /textonly.

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