Nearly 8 in 10 Canadians would like to access mental health services at least twice a year, finds report
There is a strong desire among Canadian employees to access mental health services, but that’s out of reach for many, according to a report.
Overall, 78.6% of workers would ideally like to access mental health services at least twice a year.
And a quarter (25%) want to be able to do this on a monthly basis, while 22.3% aspire to do so on a bi-weekly basis, reports people solution provider Humi.
Overall, 72% of Canadians say taking care of their mental health has become a priority, up from 68% last year, according to a previous report.
Costs of mental health treatment
Despite the desire for mental health support, 62.3% of Canadian employees rarely or never access mental health services, according to Humi’s survey of 645 Canadians, conducted in April.
Two in five (42.9%) Canadian employees feel they cannot afford to access mental health services as frequently as they need them.
Nearly seven in 10 employees say that their mental health stayed the same or worsened in the past year, according to a previous report.
Still, 60.8% of Canadian employees do not spend any money on mental health services, finds Humi.
Meanwhile, many employees are spending a lot of money of their own to access mental health services:
- 6.4% spend up to $250 per year.
- 8.1% spend up to $500 per year.
- 7.1% up to $1,000 per year.
- 11.5% up to $2,500 per year.
Mental health continues to be a growing concern in Canada, with one in three Canadians diagnosed with anxiety or depression since the onset of COVID-19, notes Humi. However, the cost is increasingly becoming a significant barrier. Private therapy fees in Canada can range anywhere between $50 to $240 per hour.
Employee benefits for mental health
But employers can help. About one in four (24.5%) Canadian employees feel they can afford to access mental health services as frequently as they need them with coverage from their employer-provided benefits. This sentiment drops to 5.6% for those without coverage from their employer.
“Most employers have come to understand that mental health is health, and like with other aspects of healthcare such as dental and vision, benefits are critical in Canadian employees’ ability to afford care not covered by their provincial healthcare plan,” says Courtney Lee, VP, People at Humi.
“The problem is mental health benefits need to be approached differently than vision and dental as many people need to access them more frequently than an annual checkup.”
Three-quarters (73%) of middle managers in Canada are experiencing burnout, according to a separate study.
Lee also urged employers to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach and expand initiatives to support employee well-being, such as psychology coverage under a group benefits plan and an EAP, a shortened workweek and unlimited personal days.
How to boost workplace wellbeing
Here are some other ways employers can boost wellbeing in the workplace, according to Mental Health First Aid:
- Foster an environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their challenges and needs by having open conversations.
- Establish a wellness committee or resource group that can focus on bringing wellness resources into your workplace.
- Review your company’s mental health resources for psychological safety practices, resources and tools to share with employees.
- Bring mental health experts into the workplace to host seminars on stress management, emotional intelligence and conflict resolution.
- Empower your employees to support one another in times of stress. Encouraging peer connections fosters a sense of community and provides additional avenues of support.
- Be a vocal and visible leader who makes the health and wellbeing of all employees a priority.
- Provide management training to all supervisors so they can balance emotional support with work demands.
- Conduct annual reviews of your company’s progress related to mental health and wellbeing.
