The first week of May is mental health week in Canada. One of the legacies of the COVID-19 pandemic will be the lasting impact on the mental health of our
society. All Canadian families have experienced isolation, stress and unwanted change over the last two years, and we are much more comfortable talking about
mental health than ever before.
We believe that it is time to turn those conversations into action. It is time to bust some long-standing and outdated myths about mental illness and injury and
make fundamental changes to programs and policies that perpetuate stigma and hold people back.
The most common myths related to mental illness or injury are often found in the workplace.
There is a widespread belief that people with mental illness or injury are incapable of work or that they don’t want to work. Nothing could be further from the
truth. Surveys consistently show that the vast majority of people with mental illness (including severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia) want to work and
make a contribution to society.
Why wouldn’t they?
Paid work provides far more than just the monetary reward for your labour. Work can often provide the critical element of meaning and purpose. It can allow for
a return to structure and routine after some time away for treatment and stabilization. The psychosocial benefits of returning to the workforce are immense, whether
it is a return to part-time or full-time employment. Both these forms of employment can also give much needed social contact and support.
Getting back into the workforce is perhaps one of the most meaningful steps on the journey to wellness for someone with a mental illness or injury.
Contrast that to the alternative.
Prolonged periods of unemployment can bring monotony, loneliness, financial pressures, social stigma and an existential void. Sadly, unemployment is the reality
of life for thousands of Canadians with mental illness or injury. Research indicates that around 65% of working age adults with mental health-related disabilities do
not have a job, with this rate rising to around 85% for people with more severe disorders. This is a tragedy when evidence suggests that even the most modest
entry-level type jobs can provide a foundation for mental health improvement and confidence building.
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In the last decade, Canadians have rallied around efforts to destigmatize discussions about mental health, with much evidence suggesting attitudes have changed
for the better. Recovery from the mental health stress of the pandemic has accelerated this attitude shift, opening an unprecedented window of opportunity for
bold ideas and innovative change.
It is now time to transform talk into action and make some fundamental changes to the way we approach disability, recovery and return to work when it comes to
mental illness and injury.
