INFORMATION RELEASE For immediate distribution
Report outlines case for investing in mental health in Canada
Calgary, Alberta, January 15, 2013 - A report released today by the Mental Health Commission of Canada shows that the economic cost of mental health problems and illnesses in Canada is at least $50 billion per year. This represents 2.8% of Canada’s 2011 gross domestic product.
Making the Case for Investing in Mental Health presents a striking picture of the substantial health care and productivity costs governments and the private sector will incur over the next thirty years due to mental illnesses, estimated to add up to more than $2.5 trillion by 2041.
The study also confirms that more than 6.7 million people in Canada are living with a mental health problem or illness today. By comparison, 2.2 million people in Canada have type 2 diabetes and 1.4 million are living with heart disease.
The study shows that the impact of mental health problems and illnesses is especially felt in workplaces and among young working aged people. While on average 1 in 5 people in Canada experience a mental illness in any given year, rates first peak during the early working years with more than 28% of people aged 20-29 affected. At the age of 40, nearly 50% of people in Canada will have had an experience with a mental health problem or illness.
The study suggests that we can reduce the costs associated with mental illnesses by investing more effectively in proven programs. The study looked at a range of strategies. For example, “if we could reduce by 10% the number of people who experience a mental illness in a given year, especially in young people, we could expect after ten years an estimated annual savings of $4 billion in direct health and social care costs,” explains MHCC Chair David Goldbloom, MD.
While health care, social services and income support make up the lion’s share of the costs each year, mental health illnesses cost businesses more than $6 billion in lost productivity due to absenteeism, presenteeism and turnover in 2011.
Within Canada’s workforce, mental health problems and illnesses account for approximately 30% of short- and long-term disability claims and are rated one of the top three drivers of such claims by more than 80% of Canadian employers. Improved management of mental health in the workplace including
prevention, early action to combat stress and indentify problems, could decrease losses to productivity significantly.
“To support employers in Canada, we will launch a new voluntary set of guidelines for psychological health and safety in the workplace that will enable them to develop and continuously improve psychologically healthy and safe work environments for their employees. This follows one of the recommendations of Changing Directions, Changing Lives: The Mental Health Strategy for Canada, which we released in 2012,” says MHCC President and CEO Louise Bradley.
The study is supported by a series of reports prepared by Risk Analytica which undertook this modeling study on behalf of the MHCC.
Read the reports here:
The Case for Investing in Mental Health in Canada
ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION OF CANADA
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is a catalyst for change. We are collaborating with hundreds of partners to change the attitudes of Canadians toward mental health problems and to improve services and support. Our goal is to help people who live with mental health problems and illnesses lead meaningful and productive lives. Together we spark change.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is funded by Health Canada.
www.mentalhealthcommission.ca strategy.mentalhealthcommission.ca
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The views represented herein solely represent the views of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Production of this document is made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada.
