Men's mental health
in the work place

Report Findings

Study performed by

In Canada, men account for roughly 75% of suicide deaths

One of the strongest risk factors for suicide is depression, particularly if it’s untreated or poorly treated. Research on the workplace factors that contribute to poor mental health - in particular for men - was lacking.

Community Savings, with HeadsUpGuys, set out to change that.

Survey Findings

Occurence

75%

In Canada, men
account for
roughly 75% of
suicide deaths.

map

620K

head

An estimated
620,000 Canadian
men suffered
from depression.

Complications

1 in 3

experienced
thoughts of suicide
or self-injury a few
times a week.

people

42%

wine

reported behaviours
suggestive of
hazardous drinking
or active alcohol use
disorder.


Men’s Mental Health in the Workplace

The report, led by HeadsUpGuys, a program of UBC, in partnership with Community Savings Credit Union, addresses the gap in research on workplace factors that contribute to poor mental health for men. It highlights the urgent need for stronger mental health support in workplaces.

While the report is based on responses from employees who identify as male, the recommended prevention strategies for supporting mental health in the workplace are applicable to all employees.


report

Special thanks to ILWU Members for study participation.

Executive Summary

Read a summary of the research results in the
Executive Summary.


Full Report

The full Men's Mental Health in the Workplace
report will give you extensive insight into the
research.

report

Special thanks to ILWU Members for study participation.

ceo

Message From
Mike Schilling


Working people have fought long and hard for physical health and safety measures in the workplace. While most employers may now get a passing grade on physical safety, many are failing workers on mental health.

With this report, Community Savings Credit Union set out with HeadsUpGuys to both understand the current state of men’s mental health in Canada and research the contributing workplace factors.

This research uncovers truly alarming findings about the state of men’s mental health in the workplace and calls into action the urgent need for employers to do more to support their employees at work.

This report sets out actionable recommendations and key strategies for workplaces to support workers’ mental health. At Community Savings, we are committed to advocating for meaningful change in workplaces to ensure workers’ mental health is recognized in health and safety programs, just as workers and unions have advocated for physical health and safety at work. It is time for organizations to take responsibility for their employees’ well-being.

One step we are taking - in addition to our ongoing mental health programs - is to rename our ‘sick days’ to ‘health days’. A key theme in the findings of this report is the importance of talking about mental health at work. By re-naming sick days, we are working to re-define and re-frame for our employees what it means to take a day for health - mental or physical. We want mental health to be a part of the conversation.

We firmly believe that in order to create a more equitable and more prosperous BC, we must actively champion and support workers rights. Supporting workers rights by driving change to support mental health in the workplace has never been more important.


sign

Mike Schilling
President & CEO, Community Savings Credit Union

What can
Workplaces do?

All workers deserve a safe environment for their physical and mental health. The report identifies key actions employers should implement, from integrating mental health self-check tools into regular employee check-ins to training managers and supervisors to identify signs of distress. A full list of strategies is below.

Upstream Prevention Strategies

Making fundamental systemic changes to
mitigate risk of negative outcomes occurring.


Shift Workplace Culture

Make mental health and suicide prevention


Improve Safety in the Workplace

Provide mandatory training on workplace


Improve Metal Health & Addiction Knowledge

Provide information sessions


Promote Social Networks

Organize company/department-wide social events;


Set Clear Expectations

Increasing workers’ influence


Support Work-Life Balance

Provide flexible work arrangements


Midstream Prevention Strategies

Instituting broad practices to identify and
respond to problems early on.


Identify Workers at Risk

Detect early symptoms for depression


Develop Work Place Psychological Health Protocols

Develop plan of actions


Promote Help-Seeking

Promote resources like Crisis Services Canada





Downstream Prevention Strategies

Approaching employed when individuals become ill.


Connect Workers with Mental Health Resources

Direct affected workers


Provide On-site Support

Develop an action plan


Health Days for All

At Community Savings, we are renaming our ‘sick days’ to ‘health days’. By re-naming sick days, we are re-defining for our employees what it means to take a day for your health - mental or physical. Every worker deserves to feel safe at work. We call on all employers to put mental health and safety first.

phone

Know Who to Contact in a Crisis

In a crisis situation, call 911 if there is an immediate concern of a worker acting on their thoughts of suicide, or help the worker reach out to the BC Crisis Centre (1-800-SUICIDE:
1-800-784-2433)
for crisis counselling.