Only one-in-five workers report being able to manage their health; one third report taking more than a year to find effective medication
TORONTO, Aug. 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TELUS Health today released its monthly TELUS Mental Health Index, revealing that workers in Canada want better control over their health and emotions. Mental health scores of those who reported having full control over their health, are significantly higher compared to those workers who reported having no control. The Index also showed that of those who have taken medication for their mental health, one-third said it took more than a year to find effective medication.
After scores holding steady for the last three months, the mental health of workers in Canada improved slightly in July by half a point, with the Mental Health Index score increasing to 65.2.
One-in-three workers in Canada (31 per cent) want more control over their health; and one-fifth (20 per cent) want more control over their emotions.
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Nearly one-in-five workers in Canada (18 per cent) reported having full control over their health. The mental health score of this group (80.6) is 40 points higher than the four per cent of workers reporting no control (41.1).
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More than one-in-five (22 per cent) reported having full control over their emotions. The mental health score of this group (81.9) is more than 46 points higher than workers who reported no control (35.5) and nearly 17 points higher than the national average (65.2).
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Women are nearly twice as likely as men to have reported having no control over their health.
Nearly one-quarter (23 per cent) of workers in Canada have taken prescription medication for a mental health issue.
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Among workers in Canada who have taken medication for a mental health issue, nearly half (46 per cent) have had to try more than one medication or dosage to treat their condition, and approximately one-third (32 per cent) said it took more than a year to arrive at an effective treatment.
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The mental health score of workers in Canada who are still trying to find the right medication (38.3) or dosage is 27 points lower than the national average and 22 points lower than workers whose first medication or dosage was effective.
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Workers in Canada under 40 are 40 per cent more likely than workers over 50 to have taken prescription medication for a mental health issue.
Comments from TELUS Health Chief Growth Officer, Juggy Sihota
“Having a sense of control in key areas of one’s life is an important driver of mental health and wellbeing. The opportunity here for employers is to facilitate that control. Personalized flexibility and resources that address a continuum of health needs are essential to the sense of control over one’s health and wellbeing. This is something that workers want. TELUS Health data previously showed that one in four workers would prefer better support for their wellbeing over a 10 per cent increase in salary. Through this period of uncertainty, employers have the ability to empower their workers in ways that will keep them healthy and passionate about the work they are doing together.”