‘The consequences of untreated adjustment disorder are not to be underestimated’
While companies may face operational challenges when employees are affected by mental health disorders, the broader impact on Canadians is more enduring, according to a recent report from Sun Life.
Mental disorder was the most common diagnostic category in 2024, accounting for nearly 40% of all long-term disability (LTD) claims.
Citing data from Mental Health Research Canada, Sun Life notes that two in five Canadians have received a mental health disorder diagnosis at some point in their lives.
Adjustment disorder—defined as emotional or behavioural symptoms arising in response to identifiable stressors or life changes—and generalised anxiety disorder have seen a significant rise in prevalence over the past five years.
Together, these two conditions comprised over 40% of LTD mental disorder claims in 2024, up sharply from 25% in 2019, according to Sun Life.
In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental illness, according to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). And by the time Canadians reach 40 years of age, 1 in 2 have – or have had – a mental illness.
“The consequences of untreated adjustment disorder are not to be underestimated,” clinical psychologist Rubin Khoddam said previously via Psychology Today. “They can manifest in various ways... Individuals grappling with this condition may find themselves caught in a relentless cycle of despair, anxiety, and emotional turmoil. It affects their ability to function optimally, not just in their personal lives but also in their professional and social interactions.”
Compensation and work relationships are the top workplace factors affecting workers’ mental health, according to a previous report.
How do you address immediate mental health needs in the workplace?
Sun Life suggests that employers can help build worker resilience by doing the following, citing external sources:
- Early access to care and intervention - Employees who received early treatment for anxiety disorders show a 40% reduction in work absenteeism compared with those who delayed treatment.
- Complete course of treatment - 15-20 sessions are required to achieve a therapeutic outcome for those living with depression.
- Employers can instill in their workers the following habits and behaviours:
- Social connections
- Purpose
- Health and wellness
- Healthy thoughts
- Seeking help
Canadians are struggling with their mental health, and are missing out on available support, according to a previous report.
“Knowing about mental health does nothing to improve workplace mental health unless action is taken,” says William McPeck, workplace humanizer and employee wellbeingpreneur, via Medium. “Strategies and tactics are all about taking action. To have the best chance of effectiveness and success, strategies and tactics must be aligned with both what the organization means by the term mental health and the organization’s culture.”
Earlier this year, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) released two resources to help employers cater to the mental health needs of their workers.
