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Fostering mental health safety in the workplace by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff 5 | Friday, March 7, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Work can present peril -- to physical safety, and mental health, too. So cautioned Oakville-resident Dr. Ian Dawes, physician-in-chief with Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, at a Tuesday breakfast hosted by Oakville's Chamber of Commerce at the Harbour Banquet Hall. Dawes, who is also an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto, said the impact of mental health on the workplace is significant. "If you are diagnosed with a mental illness, as about one in four Canadians will be, it is likely you will still be working," he said. "The Mental Health Commission of Canada estimates mental illness costs the Canadian economy $51 billion a year in terms of health-care use, lost work days and work disruption. That is a startling amount of money," said Dawes. The physician noted Ipsos-Reid and the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace have surveyed the Canadian workforce bi- Dr. Ian Dawes annually since 2007. The most recently published results (2012), showed 22 per cent of Canadian employees surveyed reported having mental illness manifested as depression. Only 14 per cent had received a formal diagnosis. Dawes also said only 31 per cent of Canadian managers and supervisors surveyed, had received training to as- sist in identification of and support for employees with depression. The bright spot, according to the physician, is 63 per cent of Canadian employers surveyed wanted better training in this area while 84 per cent agreed it was their job to intervene to support employees exhibiting signs of depression. "Encouragingly, 85 per cent of respondents say workers with mental health conditions can be just as productive as others, if they have the right supports and services," said Dawes. "Perhaps, just a little, we are starting to turn the tide against stigma and discrimination." Dawes said a major peril of the workplace is stress. Stress, he said, triggers secretion of adrenaline, but if adrenaline is not used in physical activity, it accumulates, putting a person at risk of depression, anxiety, insomnia, heart attack, stroke, bowel disorders, infertility and more. The physician observed there is no shortage of Canadians feeling stress and looked to a 2007 study of the Canadian workforce, which revealed 42 per cent of Canadian employees went to work sick or exhausted at least Encouragingly, 85 per cent of respondents say workers with mental health conditions can be just as productive as others, if they have the right supports and services. Perhaps, just a little, we are starting to turn the tide against stigma and discrimination. Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences Dr. Ian Dawes once that year. Looming deadlines, workload, not wanting colleagues to feel overwhelmed, fear that missing work would be frowned upon and not being able to lose income were listed as the reasons why employees reported they went to work unwell. Dawes said people can cope with stress by identifying and discussing problems, learning about stress management, reducing tension through exercise, and solving the problems. "Start thinking about solutions. What can you do? What would be the consequences of your actions? Should you be looking for a less stressful job, if one exists? Do you need marriage counselling? Should you be talking to a financial expert about money management?" asked Dawes. Meditation could also help, said Dawes, explaining studies have shown it can build a stronger immune system and result in improved sleep, lower blood pressure and a healthier heart, among other things. "Massachusetts General Hospital did a study a few years ago that found the relaxed response practice -- which is essentially meditation, deep breathing, yoga -- inhibits the expression of the genes that activate inflammatory pathways in our body. Those inflammatory pathways are the ones that are linked to cancer," said Dawes. "You can't say meditation prevents cancer, but we are starting to understand some of those connections in a very exciting way." Dawes called on people to find balance between work and the rest of life. He noted it is different for everyone and does change over time, but said people should make choices with the benefit of all aspects of their life in mind. Sore Feet, Sports Injury, Painful Ingrown Toenails? Plantar Warts? We can help! 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