New mental health survey sheds more light on impact of depression in the workplace
TORONTO, Nov. 19, 2007 /CNW/ - The Great-West Life Centre for Mental
Health in the Workplace (the Centre) today announced the release of a new
survey on the impact of depression in the workplace. The survey, commissioned
by the Centre and conducted by Ipsos-Reid this fall in association with the
Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health, asked
managers and employees about their personal experiences with depression.
The Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace represents
a long term, public service commitment. The Centre has two objectives: to
increase knowledge and awareness, and to turn knowledge into action - to help
employers, managers and employees prevent and reduce the impacts of mental
health issues in the workplace.
"This study sheds additional light on the issue of depression in the
workplace and provides us with some revealing data on how managers and
employees view this serious issue," said Mike Schwartz, Executive Director of
the Centre. "This is the first research project to be commissioned by the
Centre, and consistent with our public service objective, we are pleased to
make the results available to the public and to the Mental Health Commission
of Canada."
The survey revealed that:
- 19% of Canadian workers missed three or more work days due to
depression, stress or anxiety in the last 12 months
- 64% of employees who had been diagnosed as clinically depressed or
believed that they suffered from depression felt that a specific
event in their life triggered the depression
- Only 18% of Canadian managers said they had received training to help
them identify and deal with employees who exhibit signs of depression
Schwartz encouraged Canadian employers, managers and employees to take
time to read and understand the survey, and to become engaged in the issue of
mental health.
"The issue of mental health is complex and touches many lives," said
Schwartz. "By becoming informed and engaged, Canadian employers, managers and
employees can take steps today to better address workplace mental health
issues."
About the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace
Established in June 2007, the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in
the Workplace brings a unique focus to an important issue for Canadian
employers, managers, and employees. Focused specifically on the workplace, the
Centre is working to increase awareness and understanding and to help
employers take concrete steps to prevent and reduce employee mental health
issues. The Centre is a long-term, public service commitment to this very
important social and economic issue.
Results of the Ipsos-Reid survey will be available shortly on the
Centre's website at www.greatwestlife.com/centreformentalhealth.
About Great-West Life
Founded in Winnipeg in 1891, The Great-West Life Assurance Company has
long been a leader in the group benefits marketplace. Great-West Life is a
member of the Power Financial Corporation group of companies.
For further information: Marlene Klassen, APR, Assistant Vice-President,
Communications Services, (204) 946-7705
Showing posts with label studies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label studies. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Out-of-body experiences
Have you ever had an out-of-body experience?
If you live with an anxiety disorder, chances are you have or at least come close. During a severe panic attack (some are milder than others) one can experience depersonalization and/or derealization. I have often experienced derealization during panic attacks, but only once did I have an extreme case of depersonalization. It was absolutely terrifying. Literally, I lost my "sense of self" and was outside my own body - is was like I had a mind and no body - sort of floating in mid air or something. It sounds crazy, and well, it was. In fact, I have not found an online definition which describes my episode in its fully intensity (sorry Wikipedia!).
Interestingly, scientists are now creating virtual out-of-body experiences for willing volunteers. I suppose that this virtual method may soon be used for desensitization purposes. While I don't think I would be first in line to try it, nonetheless, it might be worth trying if it is shown to reduce the severity of panic attacks.
If you live with an anxiety disorder, chances are you have or at least come close. During a severe panic attack (some are milder than others) one can experience depersonalization and/or derealization. I have often experienced derealization during panic attacks, but only once did I have an extreme case of depersonalization. It was absolutely terrifying. Literally, I lost my "sense of self" and was outside my own body - is was like I had a mind and no body - sort of floating in mid air or something. It sounds crazy, and well, it was. In fact, I have not found an online definition which describes my episode in its fully intensity (sorry Wikipedia!).
Interestingly, scientists are now creating virtual out-of-body experiences for willing volunteers. I suppose that this virtual method may soon be used for desensitization purposes. While I don't think I would be first in line to try it, nonetheless, it might be worth trying if it is shown to reduce the severity of panic attacks.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Mental Illness and Relationships
I am interested in finding out from my readers, especially those who've experienced mental illness, what their relationships are like with others who have mental illness. I'd like to hear your opinion on 2 things:
-the quantity of relationships one with mental illness has with others with mental illness compared to that of the regular population (outside of support groups, health facilities, etc); other than the normal meetings spots previously mentioned, do find people with mental illness tend to group together? Are there patterns? Are we 'drawn to one another' somehow?
-the quality of the relationship one with mental illness has with others with mental illness; I'm most interested in stories involving work or personal relationships outside of typical health settings. How did you find out the other person had a mental illness? Did you disclose first?
While scientific research is interesting, I'd really like to know your opinion from your own experience. You can post as anonymous if you'd like. Note, this is not an official survey, just an online discussion.
-the quantity of relationships one with mental illness has with others with mental illness compared to that of the regular population (outside of support groups, health facilities, etc); other than the normal meetings spots previously mentioned, do find people with mental illness tend to group together? Are there patterns? Are we 'drawn to one another' somehow?
-the quality of the relationship one with mental illness has with others with mental illness; I'm most interested in stories involving work or personal relationships outside of typical health settings. How did you find out the other person had a mental illness? Did you disclose first?
While scientific research is interesting, I'd really like to know your opinion from your own experience. You can post as anonymous if you'd like. Note, this is not an official survey, just an online discussion.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Mental disorders account for more than half of hospital stays among the homeless in Canada
New CIHI report offers overview of links between mental health, mental illness and homelessness
August 30, 2007—Mental disorders accounted for 52% of acute care hospitalizations among the homeless in 2005–2006 (outside Quebec), according to a new report released today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). In addition, the report shows that 35% of visits to selected emergency departments (EDs)—mostly in Ontario—by homeless people were related to mental and behavioural disorders, a proportion that is higher than that for other patients (3%).
The Improving the Health of Canadians: Mental Health and Homelessness report provides an overview of the latest research, surveys and policy initiatives related to mental health and homelessness and, for the first time, presents data on hospital use by homeless Canadians.
“Mental illness affects a broad range of Canadians; most people with compromised mental health are not homeless, and many people who are homeless have never been diagnosed with a mental illness,” says Dr. Jennifer Zelmer, Vice President, Research and Analysis at CIHI. “However, studies show that people who are homeless are more likely to suffer from a mental illness or compromised mental health than the general population.”
For example, the leading reasons for hospital use were different for homeless patients and others. Mental disorders were the most common diagnoses among homeless patients admitted to an acute care hospital in 2005–2006 (52% of admissions). The most frequent reasons for hospitalization among other patients were pregnancy and childbirth (13%). Likewise, 35% of visits by homeless persons to selected EDs (mostly in Ontario) were related to mental disorders; injury and poisonings were the most common reasons for ED visits among other patients (25%). Among ED patients recorded as homeless, the most common type of mental disorder was substance abuse, which accounted for 54% of visits (62% for homeless men and 30% for homeless women), followed by other psychotic disorders (20% of visits), such as schizophrenia.
Homelessness linked with stress, coping, low self-esteem, low levels of social support and suicide
The report notes many factors both at the individual and broader social level—such as housing, income and the ability to cope—that have been shown to contribute to the onset or duration of homelessness. Many of these same factors are also linked to compromised mental health.
“This report explores the complex relationship between mental health and homelessness,” says Dr. Elizabeth Votta, Program Lead at the Canadian Population Health Initiative, a program of CIHI. “People with severe mental illness may experience limited housing, employment and income options. On the other hand, people who are homeless tend to report higher stress, lower self-worth, less social support and different coping strategies, factors that are associated with depressive symptoms, substance abuse, suicidal behaviours and poor self-rated health.”
Research cited in the report indicates that the homeless often experience more difficulty coping with stress, experience lower self-esteem and have less social support than people who are not homeless. For example:
-A study in Ottawa revealed that homeless male youth reported stress levels more than twice as high as levels reported by a group of non-homeless youth.
-A study in Kitchener–Waterloo showed that street youth were more likely to engage in substance abuse and self-harm as a means of coping. Non-homeless youth were more likely to cope by talking to someone they trusted or through productive problem-solving.
-A national survey found that 2% of males and 6% of females aged 15 to 24 reported having attempted suicide in Canada. Studies report higher rates among homeless youth. For example, a 2006 British Columbia survey indicates that 15% of males and 30% of females who were street-involved and marginalized reported having attempted suicide at least once in the previous 12 months.
The report also cites many examples of research linking mental illness and homelessness. These studies, conducted across Canada with different methods and over different periods of time, tended to show higher levels of diagnosed mental illness among people who were homeless than among the population as a whole. Several studies also indicate that rates of substance abuse are higher among the homeless than among other Canadians. Research suggests that homeless individuals with both a substance abuse disorder and a mental illness diagnosis are likely to remain homeless longer than others.
Canadian Population Health Initiative
The Canadian Population Health Initiative (CPHI) is part of the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). CPHI supports research to advance knowledge on the determinants of health in Canada and to develop policy options to improve population health and reduce health inequalities.
About CIHI
The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) collects and analyzes information on health and health care in Canada and makes it publicly available. Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments created CIHI as a not-for-profit, independent organization dedicated to forging a common approach to Canadian health information. CIHI’s goal: to provide timely, accurate and comparable information. CIHI’s data and reports inform health policies, support the effective delivery of health services and raise awareness among Canadians of the factors that contribute to good health.
- 30 -
Media contacts:
Christina Lawand
613-241-7860 ext. 4310
Cell: 613-299-5695
clawand@cihi.ca
Leona Hollingsworth
613-241-7860 ext. 4140
Cell: 613-612-3914
lhollingsworth@cihi.ca
The report and the following figures and tables are available from CIHI’s website at www.cihi.ca.
Table 1. Top Five Reasons for Emergency Department Visits by the Homeless and Others, 2005–2006 (based on Table 4 in the report)
Table 2. Top Five Reasons for Inpatient Hospitalization Among the Homeless and Others, 2005–2006 (based on Table 5 in the report)
Table 3. Reported Mental Illness Among Canada’s Homeless in a Sample of Canadian Cities: Results From Selected Studies (based on Table 2 in the report)
August 30, 2007—Mental disorders accounted for 52% of acute care hospitalizations among the homeless in 2005–2006 (outside Quebec), according to a new report released today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). In addition, the report shows that 35% of visits to selected emergency departments (EDs)—mostly in Ontario—by homeless people were related to mental and behavioural disorders, a proportion that is higher than that for other patients (3%).
The Improving the Health of Canadians: Mental Health and Homelessness report provides an overview of the latest research, surveys and policy initiatives related to mental health and homelessness and, for the first time, presents data on hospital use by homeless Canadians.
“Mental illness affects a broad range of Canadians; most people with compromised mental health are not homeless, and many people who are homeless have never been diagnosed with a mental illness,” says Dr. Jennifer Zelmer, Vice President, Research and Analysis at CIHI. “However, studies show that people who are homeless are more likely to suffer from a mental illness or compromised mental health than the general population.”
For example, the leading reasons for hospital use were different for homeless patients and others. Mental disorders were the most common diagnoses among homeless patients admitted to an acute care hospital in 2005–2006 (52% of admissions). The most frequent reasons for hospitalization among other patients were pregnancy and childbirth (13%). Likewise, 35% of visits by homeless persons to selected EDs (mostly in Ontario) were related to mental disorders; injury and poisonings were the most common reasons for ED visits among other patients (25%). Among ED patients recorded as homeless, the most common type of mental disorder was substance abuse, which accounted for 54% of visits (62% for homeless men and 30% for homeless women), followed by other psychotic disorders (20% of visits), such as schizophrenia.
Homelessness linked with stress, coping, low self-esteem, low levels of social support and suicide
The report notes many factors both at the individual and broader social level—such as housing, income and the ability to cope—that have been shown to contribute to the onset or duration of homelessness. Many of these same factors are also linked to compromised mental health.
“This report explores the complex relationship between mental health and homelessness,” says Dr. Elizabeth Votta, Program Lead at the Canadian Population Health Initiative, a program of CIHI. “People with severe mental illness may experience limited housing, employment and income options. On the other hand, people who are homeless tend to report higher stress, lower self-worth, less social support and different coping strategies, factors that are associated with depressive symptoms, substance abuse, suicidal behaviours and poor self-rated health.”
Research cited in the report indicates that the homeless often experience more difficulty coping with stress, experience lower self-esteem and have less social support than people who are not homeless. For example:
-A study in Ottawa revealed that homeless male youth reported stress levels more than twice as high as levels reported by a group of non-homeless youth.
-A study in Kitchener–Waterloo showed that street youth were more likely to engage in substance abuse and self-harm as a means of coping. Non-homeless youth were more likely to cope by talking to someone they trusted or through productive problem-solving.
-A national survey found that 2% of males and 6% of females aged 15 to 24 reported having attempted suicide in Canada. Studies report higher rates among homeless youth. For example, a 2006 British Columbia survey indicates that 15% of males and 30% of females who were street-involved and marginalized reported having attempted suicide at least once in the previous 12 months.
The report also cites many examples of research linking mental illness and homelessness. These studies, conducted across Canada with different methods and over different periods of time, tended to show higher levels of diagnosed mental illness among people who were homeless than among the population as a whole. Several studies also indicate that rates of substance abuse are higher among the homeless than among other Canadians. Research suggests that homeless individuals with both a substance abuse disorder and a mental illness diagnosis are likely to remain homeless longer than others.
Canadian Population Health Initiative
The Canadian Population Health Initiative (CPHI) is part of the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). CPHI supports research to advance knowledge on the determinants of health in Canada and to develop policy options to improve population health and reduce health inequalities.
About CIHI
The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) collects and analyzes information on health and health care in Canada and makes it publicly available. Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments created CIHI as a not-for-profit, independent organization dedicated to forging a common approach to Canadian health information. CIHI’s goal: to provide timely, accurate and comparable information. CIHI’s data and reports inform health policies, support the effective delivery of health services and raise awareness among Canadians of the factors that contribute to good health.
- 30 -
Media contacts:
Christina Lawand
613-241-7860 ext. 4310
Cell: 613-299-5695
clawand@cihi.ca
Leona Hollingsworth
613-241-7860 ext. 4140
Cell: 613-612-3914
lhollingsworth@cihi.ca
The report and the following figures and tables are available from CIHI’s website at www.cihi.ca.
Table 1. Top Five Reasons for Emergency Department Visits by the Homeless and Others, 2005–2006 (based on Table 4 in the report)
Table 2. Top Five Reasons for Inpatient Hospitalization Among the Homeless and Others, 2005–2006 (based on Table 5 in the report)
Table 3. Reported Mental Illness Among Canada’s Homeless in a Sample of Canadian Cities: Results From Selected Studies (based on Table 2 in the report)
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Allergies and mental health
I've had a ragweed allergy every August and September for the last few years. It seems to get worse each year and why it only appeared in my 20s is beyond me. Anyway, I do take an antihistamine to prevent the sneezing, etc. However, I am having difficulty with the fatigue-lethargy-malaise combo. Many of you with allergies know what I'm talking about. How do you cope? For those of you who experience depression or other mental health issues how do you cope when you're depressed during allergy season?
This article is quite relevant:
Psychiatric News September 20, 2002
Volume 37 Number 18
© 2002 American Psychiatric Association
p. 23
Clinical & Research News
Ragweed Allergy May Trigger Depression, Malaise
Joan Arehart-Treichel
Sneezing, a runny or congested nose, and swollen, itchy eyes are the well-known symptoms of ragweed allergy. And to those should be added malaise and depression, at least for some ragweed sufferers.
August and September are rarely a favorite time of year for the some 36 million Americans who suffer from ragweed allergies. During these weeks, ragweed pollen moves their immune systems into high gear and leads to sneezing, a runny or congested nose, and swollen, itchy eyes.
Many of these ragweed sufferers may also experience a sense of malaise and even depression, suggests a study reported in the July-August Psychosomatic Medicine.
The study was conducted by Paul Marshall, Ph.D., director of the neuropsychology section and the department of psychiatry at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis; Christine O’Hara, R.N., a research nurse coordinator with the Hennepin County Medical Center; and Paul Steinberg, M.D., director of the division of allergy and immunology at Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Allergists have occasionally reported that persons with ragweed allergies may feel fatigued and mentally "down" during ragweed season. Two large epidemiological studies have also suggested an intriguing link between ragweed allergy and depression.
In one study, of some 700 randomly selected children, those with hay fever were found to be twice as likely to develop a major depressive episode over the next few years than those without hay fever. In the other, of approximately 7,000 adults, those with hay fever were twice as likely to have been diagnosed with major depression within the previous year than those without hay fever.
So Marshall and his coworkers set out to determine whether there is truly a connection between ragweed allergy and fatigue or between ragweed allergy and depression.
They recruited 57 subjects who were either allergic to ragweed or served as controls. Both allergic and control subjects were similar with respect to age, sex, intelligence, and years of education. None was preselected because of complaints about fatigue or depression. They then tested the subjects for fatigue and depression during ragweed season 1996, winter 1997, ragweed season 1997, and ragweed season 1998.
During the testing periods, subjects filled out the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, a 20-item, self-report instrument that measured both mental and physical fatigue. They also rated their moods with the Positive Affect Negative Affect Scales, which measured positive mood states such as high energy and full concentration, and negative mood states such as sadness and lethargy. Allergy subjects used no allergy medications to avoid confounding test results. Findings for the allergy subjects per season were compared, as were findings for control subjects per season.
Allergy subjects, the researchers found, reported more mental and motivational fatigue, but not more physical fatigue, during ragweed season than in winter, and the differences were statistically significant. These subjects also reported statistically significant changes in mood between ragweed season and winter, their moods being more negative during the former.
As for controls, there was no statistically significant difference between their mental and physical energy levels in ragweed season and in winter. The same held true for their moods.
Several hypotheses might explain why ragweed sufferers endure more negative moods during allergy season. One possibility, of course, is that people who have allergies to ragweed feel mentally depleted because of the physical suffering that their allergies impose on them. Another is that their mental distress comes from allergy-induced sleep loss. And yet a third explanation—the one Marshall and his colleagues favor since ragweed allergy seems to sap mental but not physical energy—is that ragweed allergy provokes its negative mental effects by acting directly on the brain.
For instance, as the researchers pointed out in their study report, ragweed is known to be capable of forcing nose and lung cells to release cytokines—little proteins that play a role in immune responses. Severely depressed patients have been found to have higher concentrations of such cytokines in their cerebrospinal fluid.
Thus, ragweed might prompt, in persons allergic to it, the release of cytokines from lung cells. The cytokines in the lung cells might then excite the vagus nerve, which innervates the lungs, and the excited vagus nerve might then signal the brain, thereby unleashing malaise and depression.
The study was partly funded by Pfizer Inc.
An abstract of the study, "Effects of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis on Fatigue Levels and Mood," can be accessed at www.psychosomaticmedicine.org by clicking on "Search an Issue from the Archive" and then the "July-August 2002 issue." {blacksquare}
This article is quite relevant:
Psychiatric News September 20, 2002
Volume 37 Number 18
© 2002 American Psychiatric Association
p. 23
Clinical & Research News
Ragweed Allergy May Trigger Depression, Malaise
Joan Arehart-Treichel
Sneezing, a runny or congested nose, and swollen, itchy eyes are the well-known symptoms of ragweed allergy. And to those should be added malaise and depression, at least for some ragweed sufferers.
August and September are rarely a favorite time of year for the some 36 million Americans who suffer from ragweed allergies. During these weeks, ragweed pollen moves their immune systems into high gear and leads to sneezing, a runny or congested nose, and swollen, itchy eyes.
Many of these ragweed sufferers may also experience a sense of malaise and even depression, suggests a study reported in the July-August Psychosomatic Medicine.
The study was conducted by Paul Marshall, Ph.D., director of the neuropsychology section and the department of psychiatry at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis; Christine O’Hara, R.N., a research nurse coordinator with the Hennepin County Medical Center; and Paul Steinberg, M.D., director of the division of allergy and immunology at Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Allergists have occasionally reported that persons with ragweed allergies may feel fatigued and mentally "down" during ragweed season. Two large epidemiological studies have also suggested an intriguing link between ragweed allergy and depression.
In one study, of some 700 randomly selected children, those with hay fever were found to be twice as likely to develop a major depressive episode over the next few years than those without hay fever. In the other, of approximately 7,000 adults, those with hay fever were twice as likely to have been diagnosed with major depression within the previous year than those without hay fever.
So Marshall and his coworkers set out to determine whether there is truly a connection between ragweed allergy and fatigue or between ragweed allergy and depression.
They recruited 57 subjects who were either allergic to ragweed or served as controls. Both allergic and control subjects were similar with respect to age, sex, intelligence, and years of education. None was preselected because of complaints about fatigue or depression. They then tested the subjects for fatigue and depression during ragweed season 1996, winter 1997, ragweed season 1997, and ragweed season 1998.
During the testing periods, subjects filled out the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, a 20-item, self-report instrument that measured both mental and physical fatigue. They also rated their moods with the Positive Affect Negative Affect Scales, which measured positive mood states such as high energy and full concentration, and negative mood states such as sadness and lethargy. Allergy subjects used no allergy medications to avoid confounding test results. Findings for the allergy subjects per season were compared, as were findings for control subjects per season.
Allergy subjects, the researchers found, reported more mental and motivational fatigue, but not more physical fatigue, during ragweed season than in winter, and the differences were statistically significant. These subjects also reported statistically significant changes in mood between ragweed season and winter, their moods being more negative during the former.
As for controls, there was no statistically significant difference between their mental and physical energy levels in ragweed season and in winter. The same held true for their moods.
Several hypotheses might explain why ragweed sufferers endure more negative moods during allergy season. One possibility, of course, is that people who have allergies to ragweed feel mentally depleted because of the physical suffering that their allergies impose on them. Another is that their mental distress comes from allergy-induced sleep loss. And yet a third explanation—the one Marshall and his colleagues favor since ragweed allergy seems to sap mental but not physical energy—is that ragweed allergy provokes its negative mental effects by acting directly on the brain.
For instance, as the researchers pointed out in their study report, ragweed is known to be capable of forcing nose and lung cells to release cytokines—little proteins that play a role in immune responses. Severely depressed patients have been found to have higher concentrations of such cytokines in their cerebrospinal fluid.
Thus, ragweed might prompt, in persons allergic to it, the release of cytokines from lung cells. The cytokines in the lung cells might then excite the vagus nerve, which innervates the lungs, and the excited vagus nerve might then signal the brain, thereby unleashing malaise and depression.
The study was partly funded by Pfizer Inc.
An abstract of the study, "Effects of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis on Fatigue Levels and Mood," can be accessed at www.psychosomaticmedicine.org by clicking on "Search an Issue from the Archive" and then the "July-August 2002 issue." {blacksquare}
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Canada's public service is depressed
Number of depressed workers claiming disability doubles in a decade
Don Butler
The Ottawa Citizen
Depressed and anxious public servants comprise by far the largest group of federal employees on disability insurance. And their ranks have expanded rapidly since the early 1990s.
The information appears in a major federal study of public service compensation that calls for sweeping changes to benefit programs for government workers.
The study was posted without fanfare on Treasury Board's website last week.
According to the study, about 4.3 per cent of the federal government's 200,000 unionized workers -- nearly 8,500 in total -- were on disability in 2002.
Though that proportion hasn't changed markedly since the mid-1990s, the number of public servants citing disabling depression and anxiety nearly doubled to more than 44 per cent in 2002 from 23.7 in 1991.
That's far and away the largest trigger for disability claims by federal government workers. Cancer, at 14.2 per cent, is next.
The government's 40,000 or so managers and non-unionized workers make proportionately fewer disability claims than their unionized colleagues. In 2002, just 2.8 per cent were collecting disability insurance. But fully 58 per cent of them cited "mental/nervous" afflictions in 2002, up from 44 per cent in 1992.
For the rest of this story see www.ottawacitizen.com.
*****
While I worked for the public service for only 2 years I knew a few people who took stress leave in my department. In fact, it was during my time in the public service that my own mental illness progressed rapidly. At the end of my stint in the public service I had what some would call a nervous breakdown.
Note that I am not suggesting that working for the public service caused me to become sick. It was a combination of many factors. However, I can say with certainty that one department in which I worked was not conducive to good mental health. At the time, it wasn't a good fit for me. Nonetheless, I managed to produce excellent work during my time there and I received positive reviews by my supervisors.
For the most part, I enjoyed my work experience. I learned tons and was paid well considering I started as a student. I also met some great people who are still friends today. There were just certain frustrations with working for the public services that I have not experienced with the same severity elsewhere.
Out of respect for my former colleagues and government employer I would rather not go into detail about the negatives here. If you have questions, please email me.
Don Butler
The Ottawa Citizen
Depressed and anxious public servants comprise by far the largest group of federal employees on disability insurance. And their ranks have expanded rapidly since the early 1990s.
The information appears in a major federal study of public service compensation that calls for sweeping changes to benefit programs for government workers.
The study was posted without fanfare on Treasury Board's website last week.
According to the study, about 4.3 per cent of the federal government's 200,000 unionized workers -- nearly 8,500 in total -- were on disability in 2002.
Though that proportion hasn't changed markedly since the mid-1990s, the number of public servants citing disabling depression and anxiety nearly doubled to more than 44 per cent in 2002 from 23.7 in 1991.
That's far and away the largest trigger for disability claims by federal government workers. Cancer, at 14.2 per cent, is next.
The government's 40,000 or so managers and non-unionized workers make proportionately fewer disability claims than their unionized colleagues. In 2002, just 2.8 per cent were collecting disability insurance. But fully 58 per cent of them cited "mental/nervous" afflictions in 2002, up from 44 per cent in 1992.
For the rest of this story see www.ottawacitizen.com.
*****
While I worked for the public service for only 2 years I knew a few people who took stress leave in my department. In fact, it was during my time in the public service that my own mental illness progressed rapidly. At the end of my stint in the public service I had what some would call a nervous breakdown.
Note that I am not suggesting that working for the public service caused me to become sick. It was a combination of many factors. However, I can say with certainty that one department in which I worked was not conducive to good mental health. At the time, it wasn't a good fit for me. Nonetheless, I managed to produce excellent work during my time there and I received positive reviews by my supervisors.
For the most part, I enjoyed my work experience. I learned tons and was paid well considering I started as a student. I also met some great people who are still friends today. There were just certain frustrations with working for the public services that I have not experienced with the same severity elsewhere.
Out of respect for my former colleagues and government employer I would rather not go into detail about the negatives here. If you have questions, please email me.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Mental Health Literacy
The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) is in the midst of developing a national strategy on improving mental health literacy in Canada. They are surveying as many Canadians as possible.
Mental health literacy is defined as the knowledge, beliefs and abilities that enable the recognition, management or prevention of mental health problems. CAMIMH's investigations thus far indicate that enhanced mental health literacy appears to confer a range of benefits: prevention, early recognition and intervention, and reduction of stigma associated with mental illness.
If you are interested in becoming involved in this initiative you are requested to fill out the following survey. All submissions will be treated as confidential.
Ce questionnaire est aussi disponible en français.
L’Alliance canadienne pour la maladie mentale et la santé mentale (ACMMSM) est au cœur du développement d’une stratégie nationale pour améliorer l’alphabétisme en matière de santé mentale au Canada. Par conséquent, ils enquêtient autant de Canadiens que possible. L’alphabétisme en matière de santé mentale est défini comme étant les connaissances, les croyances et les aptitudes qui facilitent la détection, la gestion ou la prévention des problèmes de santé mentale. Jusqu’à maintenant, les investigations de l’ACMMSM indiquent que l’alphabétisme en matière de santé mentale semble conférer une variété d’avantages : La prévention, la détection précoce et l’intervention, et la réduction du stigmate associé avec la maladie mentale.
Si vous êtes intéressé à vous engager dans cette initiative, nous vous demandons de remplir le sondage suivant. Toutes les soumissions seront traitées dans la plus stricte confidentialité.
Mental health literacy is defined as the knowledge, beliefs and abilities that enable the recognition, management or prevention of mental health problems. CAMIMH's investigations thus far indicate that enhanced mental health literacy appears to confer a range of benefits: prevention, early recognition and intervention, and reduction of stigma associated with mental illness.
If you are interested in becoming involved in this initiative you are requested to fill out the following survey. All submissions will be treated as confidential.
Ce questionnaire est aussi disponible en français.
L’Alliance canadienne pour la maladie mentale et la santé mentale (ACMMSM) est au cœur du développement d’une stratégie nationale pour améliorer l’alphabétisme en matière de santé mentale au Canada. Par conséquent, ils enquêtient autant de Canadiens que possible. L’alphabétisme en matière de santé mentale est défini comme étant les connaissances, les croyances et les aptitudes qui facilitent la détection, la gestion ou la prévention des problèmes de santé mentale. Jusqu’à maintenant, les investigations de l’ACMMSM indiquent que l’alphabétisme en matière de santé mentale semble conférer une variété d’avantages : La prévention, la détection précoce et l’intervention, et la réduction du stigmate associé avec la maladie mentale.
Si vous êtes intéressé à vous engager dans cette initiative, nous vous demandons de remplir le sondage suivant. Toutes les soumissions seront traitées dans la plus stricte confidentialité.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Moving, Part 2
I have not forgotten about my loyal readers! Things have been very busy. My partner and I are moving again. Yes, it was only last November that I wrote about the stress of moving. While we are much more prepared this time, I'm still a little anxious - hoping everything goes smoothly.
We will be moving within Ottawa and this time around we bought a house, a townhome, actually. We hadn't planned on moving so soon. However, our landlady would like to occupy her home - something we could never have planned for.
While I work on the move, I'll leave you with some reading during my short absence.
Interesting stories to check out:
-54 million people suffer from mental illness (United Nations)
-scientific breakthrough with stem cells provides hope for better treatment of Alzheimer's and diabetes
-gene discovery to aid in the development of new treatments for bipolar disorder, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure and Crohn's disease.
-Systems Enhancement Evaluation Initiative (SEEI) suggests that the new money invested in Ontario's mental health since 2004 is making an impact.
-Regina, Saskatchewan struggling to hire more mental health professionals; rates of mental illness much higher among low-income population - study's results reflect the incidence of mental illness in the poor around the world
We will be moving within Ottawa and this time around we bought a house, a townhome, actually. We hadn't planned on moving so soon. However, our landlady would like to occupy her home - something we could never have planned for.
While I work on the move, I'll leave you with some reading during my short absence.
Interesting stories to check out:
-54 million people suffer from mental illness (United Nations)
-scientific breakthrough with stem cells provides hope for better treatment of Alzheimer's and diabetes
-gene discovery to aid in the development of new treatments for bipolar disorder, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure and Crohn's disease.
-Systems Enhancement Evaluation Initiative (SEEI) suggests that the new money invested in Ontario's mental health since 2004 is making an impact.
-Regina, Saskatchewan struggling to hire more mental health professionals; rates of mental illness much higher among low-income population - study's results reflect the incidence of mental illness in the poor around the world
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Ipsos Reid study on depression in the workplace released today
(statistical references from The Ottawa Citizen, February 15, 2007)
Overview
-Fourteen per cent of Canadian adults have been diagnosed with depression by a doctor, with a higher incidence in women (18 per cent) than men (11 per cent).
-Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed (72 per cent) know someone who has been diagnosed with depression.
-Eight in 10 Canadians said they believe depression is a "life-threatening illness," while just 24 per cent think depressed people could "just snap out of it if they really wanted to."
-Seventy-nine per cent of workers said they believe a person diagnosed with depression would keep the fact secret to avoid damaging their future opportunities at work, and nearly half believe someone missing work because of depression would be more likely "to get into trouble and maybe even fired."
-Eighty-eight per cent of Canadians believe CEOs should make helping employees with depression "a key human resources priority."
Shannon Proudfoot of The Ottawa Citizen interviewed Donna Hardaker, a community mental health analyst at the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Ms. Hardaker says workplaces are still "in the Dark Ages" in terms of dealing with depression. "When someone has depression, the symptoms co-workers see are behavioural," Ms. Hardaker says. "They don't see someone who needs to lie down, they don't see someone who has to go for chemotherapy treatment. Instead, they see someone who may be irritable, withdrawn, not meeting deadlines, blaming people for problems."
Why should employers care?
Hopefully, they care about the well-being of their employees, first of all. Secondly, mental illness costs Canadian businesses $33 billion a year in lost productivity (Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health).
Employers need to take responsibility to help their employees both prevent and deal with mental illness. It can only lead to healthier, happier employees and a more productive workplace.
Some suggestions:
-Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
-Stress management workshops
-Adequate benefit coverage for professional counselling ($1000+ per year); psychologist visits are NOT covered by health care, at least not in the province of Ontario
-At least 2 weeks vacation time permitted annually; ensure your employees take advantage of it each year – this includes management
-Flexibility for employees to attend medical or psychological appointments during the day as often as deemed necessary by the health care professional; allowing the employee to undergo treatment as early as possible. This will reduce missed work hours and sick days in the long run.
-Modified work schedules for employees with persistent, but manageable, mental illness and for those who are re-entering the workforce after sick leave due to mental illness; in these cases a doctor’s note may provide proper instruction)
-Most importantly, the employer should be approachable and understanding
Mental Health Works is a great resource employers can visit for detailed information on how to recognize mental illness, talk with employees, and handle workplace situations that involve mental illness.
Overview
-Fourteen per cent of Canadian adults have been diagnosed with depression by a doctor, with a higher incidence in women (18 per cent) than men (11 per cent).
-Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed (72 per cent) know someone who has been diagnosed with depression.
-Eight in 10 Canadians said they believe depression is a "life-threatening illness," while just 24 per cent think depressed people could "just snap out of it if they really wanted to."
-Seventy-nine per cent of workers said they believe a person diagnosed with depression would keep the fact secret to avoid damaging their future opportunities at work, and nearly half believe someone missing work because of depression would be more likely "to get into trouble and maybe even fired."
-Eighty-eight per cent of Canadians believe CEOs should make helping employees with depression "a key human resources priority."
Shannon Proudfoot of The Ottawa Citizen interviewed Donna Hardaker, a community mental health analyst at the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Ms. Hardaker says workplaces are still "in the Dark Ages" in terms of dealing with depression. "When someone has depression, the symptoms co-workers see are behavioural," Ms. Hardaker says. "They don't see someone who needs to lie down, they don't see someone who has to go for chemotherapy treatment. Instead, they see someone who may be irritable, withdrawn, not meeting deadlines, blaming people for problems."
Why should employers care?
Hopefully, they care about the well-being of their employees, first of all. Secondly, mental illness costs Canadian businesses $33 billion a year in lost productivity (Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health).
Employers need to take responsibility to help their employees both prevent and deal with mental illness. It can only lead to healthier, happier employees and a more productive workplace.
Some suggestions:
-Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
-Stress management workshops
-Adequate benefit coverage for professional counselling ($1000+ per year); psychologist visits are NOT covered by health care, at least not in the province of Ontario
-At least 2 weeks vacation time permitted annually; ensure your employees take advantage of it each year – this includes management
-Flexibility for employees to attend medical or psychological appointments during the day as often as deemed necessary by the health care professional; allowing the employee to undergo treatment as early as possible. This will reduce missed work hours and sick days in the long run.
-Modified work schedules for employees with persistent, but manageable, mental illness and for those who are re-entering the workforce after sick leave due to mental illness; in these cases a doctor’s note may provide proper instruction)
-Most importantly, the employer should be approachable and understanding
Mental Health Works is a great resource employers can visit for detailed information on how to recognize mental illness, talk with employees, and handle workplace situations that involve mental illness.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
If it were only that simple, here's hoping...
Clue to mental illness all in the nose
From the New Zealand Herald
Predicting the onset of mental illness could soon be as simple as smelling a scratch-and-sniff card loaded with the aroma of roses or a whiff of petrol.
Scientists have taken the same technology popular in children's books and designed a test to help diagnose brain disorders before the onset of any symptoms.
The test can be used for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia, as well as some illnesses affecting adolescents.
It originated in a discovery by Melbourne University researchers of a link between these illnesses and a poor ability to identify smells.
To test their theory, they developed a set of 40 scratch-and-sniff cards and asked people to identify the smell from a list of four possibilities, such as coffee, roses, oranges and petrol.
Professor Warwick Brewer, from the university's Orygen Research Centre, said the people who later went on to develop a brain disorder had demonstrated difficulty correctly answering more than half the questions.
He said the simple test also could be used by relatives of people with these conditions.
"Because of the genetic link in many illnesses, it is hoped the test could also be used by family members of people who have developed an illness of the brain."
Professor Christos Pantelis, from the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, said smell ability provided unique information about brain structure and function.
"Mental illness can arrest the full maturation of the frontal lobe, while degenerative illness can damage it," Professor Pantelis said.
"This area of the brain is used to analyse and identify smells so an abnormal sense of smell may indicate problems in this 'thinking' area of the brain."
Their research also revealed that the sense of smell is worse in those with more severe illnesses, giving important clues into the patient's long-term prospects.
The research has been compiled in a new book, Olfaction and the Brain.
- AAP
From the New Zealand Herald
Predicting the onset of mental illness could soon be as simple as smelling a scratch-and-sniff card loaded with the aroma of roses or a whiff of petrol.
Scientists have taken the same technology popular in children's books and designed a test to help diagnose brain disorders before the onset of any symptoms.
The test can be used for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia, as well as some illnesses affecting adolescents.
It originated in a discovery by Melbourne University researchers of a link between these illnesses and a poor ability to identify smells.
To test their theory, they developed a set of 40 scratch-and-sniff cards and asked people to identify the smell from a list of four possibilities, such as coffee, roses, oranges and petrol.
Professor Warwick Brewer, from the university's Orygen Research Centre, said the people who later went on to develop a brain disorder had demonstrated difficulty correctly answering more than half the questions.
He said the simple test also could be used by relatives of people with these conditions.
"Because of the genetic link in many illnesses, it is hoped the test could also be used by family members of people who have developed an illness of the brain."
Professor Christos Pantelis, from the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, said smell ability provided unique information about brain structure and function.
"Mental illness can arrest the full maturation of the frontal lobe, while degenerative illness can damage it," Professor Pantelis said.
"This area of the brain is used to analyse and identify smells so an abnormal sense of smell may indicate problems in this 'thinking' area of the brain."
Their research also revealed that the sense of smell is worse in those with more severe illnesses, giving important clues into the patient's long-term prospects.
The research has been compiled in a new book, Olfaction and the Brain.
- AAP
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