The mental health and wellbeing of your workforce is critical when it comes to overall health – and productivity at work. 

The Mental Health Index (MHI) surveys 16,000 workers from around the world. Published monthly, the index provides a measure of the current mental health status of employed adults. The increases and decreases in the MHI are intended to predict cost and productivity risks, and help governments and businesses understand how much they should be investing in supporting the mental health of their people. 

Highlights: What do you need to know for April 2023? 

1. One-third of workers in Canada have a high mental health risk, more than double the pre-pandemic rate. 

• At 64.6, the mental health of workers in Canada improved modestly from the prior month 

• While depression, anxiety, isolation, and work productivity are worse than the prior month, the main driver of the slight improvement in mental health is greater optimism 

• 32% have a high mental health risk, 43% have a moderate mental health risk, and 25% have a low mental health risk

• Mental health scores declined in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador; scores improved or remained unchanged in other provinces 

• Labourers have a lower mental health score than service and office workers 

• Managers and non-managers have nearly equal mental health scores

2. More than one in ten workers report mental health decline or significant mental health challenges. 

• The mental health scores of workers reporting a decline in their mental health or significant mental health challenges are 43 or more points below workers reporting good mental health and 29 or more points below the national average 

• Women are 70 per cent more likely than men to say their mental health is in decline 

• Labourers are more likely to report their health is in decline than office workers and service workers 

• Workers older than 50 are more likely than workers under 40 to self-report good mental health

Click here to download the April report.

Click here to view the press release.

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