The Real Cost of Untreated Mental Health in the Workplace

The scale of the problem in Canada

Mental health conditions are a leading driver of short- and long-term disability claims in Canada. The cost appears across disability claims, absenteeism, turnover, and presenteeism: employees who are present but operating well below their usual capacity.

Absenteeism and presenteeism

Absenteeism is visible, but presenteeism is often more expensive. An employee managing untreated anxiety, depression, grief, or chronic stress may attend every shift while struggling to concentrate, decide, communicate, and perform.

Turnover, disability, and claims

Employees who feel unsupported are more likely to leave, and psychological injury claims can become expensive and long-running. Early clinical support is usually more contained and more humane than waiting until a concern has become a crisis.

The ESS approach

Your Counselling ESS gives employers a practical way to offer clinical support, workshops, and critical incident response with flexible delivery and a structure that can fit different organization sizes.

References

• Mental Health Commission of Canada. (2023). Making the case for investing in mental health in Canada.
• Conference Board of Canada. (2023). Workplace mental health in Canada.
• Deloitte Canada. (2023). The ROI in workplace mental health programs.