CALGARY OFFICE
Suite 320, 110 Quarry Park Boul SO Calgary, Alberta T2C 3G3
Tél : 403.255.5808 Téléc : 403.385.4044
www.commissionstantementale.ca
@MHCC
OTTAWA OFFICE
Suite 600, 100 Sparks Street Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5B7 Tél : 613.683.3755 Téléc : 613.798.2989
Income Support
WHAT IS THE
ASPIRING WORKFORCE?
Those people who have been unable to enter the workforce, have been in and out of the workforce, or are attempting to return to work after being away for a lengthy period of time due to a mental health problem or illness.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
To learn how policy makers and others can help improve disability policies, check out The Aspiring Workforce: Employment and Income for People with Serious Mental Illness at www.mentalhealthcommission.ca.
The report includes an overview of the types of disability benefi t programs off ered provincially, as well as characteristics of these programs that could represent incentives and disincentives to employment.
FACTS
• Most people living with serious mental illnesses want to work.
• The Aspiring Workforce can make signifi cant contributions to the Canadian economy.
Disability income support programs were not designed with mental illnesses in mind, but policy reforms in a number of countries have led to improved workforce outcomes for people with disabilities – we know this can be done here in Canada.
CHALLENGES
• Poorly designed income support systems can act as poverty traps.
• They can also prevent people from seeking employment.
Implementing change successfully will require collaboration by all sectors, including government, mental health partners, employers and society.
We know that work is good for mental health, and we know that many people living with serious mental illnesses can work with the right supports.
However, the current Canadian policy environment often links disability with exclusion. Many programs draw a defi ning line between those who can work and those who cannot, without creating space for those with intermittent work ability - common for people with episodic mental illnesses.
The information in this hand out has been cited from The Aspiring Workforce: Employment and Income for People with Serious Mental Illness. The publication was produced by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, in collaboration with the Centre for Mental Health and Addiction, the University of Toronto and Queen’s University.
The views represented herein solely represent the views of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Production of this document is made possible through a fi nancial contribution from Health Canada.
