With one in five Canadians reporting work-related stress, concerns about worker well-being and the need for real solutions have taken front and centre in Canadian workplaces.

A newly released report from Mental Health Research Canada, created in partnership with Workplace Strategies for Mental Health and Canada Life, examined signs of stress and trauma in Canadian workplaces. The findings are based on online survey data collected from more than 5,500 respondents by Pollara Strategic Insights in March and April 2023.

Findings you can’t ignore

Nearly a quarter of respondents reported experiencing trauma in the workplace. Like the stress response, trauma isn’t always limited to a single distressing event. A series of events or set of circumstances also cause harm. Regardless, the impact is lasting for many according to this latest survey: 38 per cent remain affected by their experiences, while only 48 per cent report having fully recovered. Workplace trauma most often stems from interactions with clients, accounting for 46 per cent of responses, followed by coworkers at 29 per cent and direct managers at 27 per cent, highlighting that harm can arise across multiple levels of the work environment. Compounding this issue is a lack of workplace action: 27 per cent of respondents feel physical safety is not consistently prioritized, and an even greater 45 per cent say the same about psychological safety, highlighting the need for stronger organizational commitment to employee well-being.

Highlights that matter

Workplace stressors also vary across the workforce. People aged 55 and older report lower levels of psychological harm at work, at 15 per cent, compared to younger and middle-aged workers, where about one in four say they’ve been impacted. The difference, as with higher rates of physical injuries in younger workers, is often associated with newness to the job and more hazardous work. Some job sectors also pose much higher hazard profiles—for instance, over half of health care workers and educators, along with many first responders, say they regularly deal with trauma and stress as part of their work. The impact is also higher for marginalized groups like racialized Canadians; some 50 per cent who also report experiencing trauma or significant stress on the job.

Mental health training: Because workers matter

Fortunately, many work-related hazards that contribute to mental injuries and illnesses can be identified and eliminated — hazards like long hours, heavy workloads, low autonomy, weak support, and workplace violence. A key step in this process is comprehensive training.

Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) supports workers, their representatives, supervisors, and employers across all industries in both the public and private sectors with training designed to: 

• identify mental health hazards
• encourage action on preventive and protective measures for safer, healthier work
• provide tools to recognize signs of stress-related impacts.

To support Mental Health Awareness month and help workplaces create healthier, safer work, WHSC, is once again offering for a limited time a full schedule of instructor-led, in-person*, virtual classroom and onsite** workplace mental health training courses in English and French at a discounted rate of $40 (regularly priced at $75) per course when purchased by June 30. 

*If you have one or two people to train, choose our community-based training nearest you or virtual training.

**For larger groups, onsite training is a cost-effective, efficient option. Reach us at 1.888.869.7950 or contactus@whsc.on.ca to explore your options. Note: If you don’t have a WHSC-qualified in-house instructor, a minimum of 16 participants is required to avoid an additional instructor fee, and sessions must be scheduled by June 30. This offer excludes bulk orders.

Workplace Mental Health Training programs include: 

• Stress in the Workplace
• Critical Incident & Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Workplace Violence & Harassment
• Psychosocial Hazards & Workplace Mental Health

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In need of resources?
Building Mentally Safe, Healthy Workplaces Promo Offer Flyer
Work Stress Hazard Bulletin
Workplace Violence Resources

Need more information?
Contact a WHSC Training Services Representative in your area.
Email: contactus@whsc.on.ca
Visit: whsc.on.ca
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