Young Canadians are more likely to lack confidence in their ability to cope with work stressors

TORONTO – LifeWorks, a leading provider of digital and in-person total wellbeing solutions supported by TELUS Health, today released its monthly Mental Health Index™ revealing that Canadians under 40 are 60 per cent more likely than those over 50 to lack confidence in their ability to cope with stressors at work. Additionally, one-third of Canadians surveyed said that inflation is their biggest concern.

The Index found that Canadian workers are experiencing increasing strain with an unfavourable mental health score.

• The Mental Health Index™ score for December 2022 is 64.6 points out of 100, a slight increase from November 2022. This marks the first improvement in six months.

Young Canadian workers are struggling at a higher rate than older workers

• Twenty-nine per cent of Canadians typically struggle when it comes to adapting to change.

• Canadians under 40 are nearly twice as likely as those over 50 to feel isolated because they feel anxious or nervous around others. Additionally, this group is more than twice as likely to feel isolated because they do not feel connected or accepted by the people they know.

• Canadians under 40 are more than twice as likely as those over 50 to lack confidence in their problem-solving abilities under pressure.

Half of working Canadians would be interested in an assessment of their mental health

• Forty-nine per cent of Canadians would be interested in a free and confidential assessment.

• Another 32 per cent are unsure about whether or not they would want a mental health assessment.

• The mental health of those wanting an assessment is 61.6, which is three points lower than the national average, and thirteen points lower than those who do not want an assessment (74.5).

• 38 per cent would prefer an in-person assessment.

• Approximately the same percentage (37 per cent) would prefer an online assessment.

• 18 per cent have no preference for assessment modality.

Comments from TELUS Health Chief Operating Officer, Michael Dingle
“Over the last three years, young and emerging professionals have only known transitional and ever-changing workplace environments. The reality is that all change is stressful if not managed well with techniques to mitigate anxiety. As employers take a more proactive role in supporting the health and well-being of their employees, organizations and leaders need to be supported in building more resilient cultures by equipping their teams with coping skills that can be taught, modelled and reinforced. There is clearly a need for this support in today’s workplaces as employees, particularly those who are younger, continue to deal with significant change and stress.”

Comments from LifeWorks Global Leader and Senior Vice President, Research and Total Wellbeing, Paula Allen
“The data showing that half of Canadians are interested in having a mental health assessment is a call to action. There is an intuitive understanding of the potential need for help as this group has much lower mental health scores than those who do not want an assessment, but most people will not have this need met. We need to leverage the opportunity to expand the reach of mental health professionals with smart use of technology so there is no gap between people wanting an assessment and getting it in a timely manner. While in-person support will always have value, there is a growing preference among the population to use technology to start their personal mental health journey.”

The full Canadian LifeWorks Mental Health Index™ report can be found here. This month, the report includes additional insights on Canadians’ personal life stressors, holiday season stress, Canadians’ interest in a free confidential assessment of their mental health and wellbeing, and more.

LifeWorks is a wholly owned subsidiary of TELUS now operating as part of TELUS Health as a result of its recent acquisition.

About the Mental Health Index™
The monthly survey by LifeWorks was conducted through an online survey in English and French from December 2 to 7, 2022 with 3,000 respondents in Canada. All respondents reside in Canada and were employed within the last six months. The data has been statistically weighted to ensure the regional and gender composition of the sample reflect this population. The Mental Health Index™ is published monthly, beginning April 2020.

The Mental Health Index™ is based on a response scoring system that then turns individual responses into point values. Higher point values are associated with better mental health and less mental health risk. Scores between 0 to 49 correspond with distress levels, scores between 50 to 79 correspond with strain levels and scores between 80 to 100 correspond with optimal levels of mental health.

About TELUS Health
TELUS Health is a global healthcare company serving people in more than 160 countries delivering both digital innovation and clinical services to improve total physical, mental and financial health and wellness across the full spectrum of primary and preventative care. By leveraging the power of technology to deliver connected solutions and services both in-person and virtually, TELUS Health is improving access to care and revolutionizing the flow of information while facilitating collaboration, efficiency, and productivity for physicians, pharmacists, health authorities, allied healthcare professionals, insurers, employers and people globally, progressing its vision of transforming healthcare and empowering people to live healthier lives.

Our clinical team is composed of renowned and passionate health professionals around the world delivering best-in-class people-centric care to hundreds of thousands of employers, professionals and their families.

For more information, please visit: www.telushealth.com.

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Media contact:

Jill Yetman
TELUS Media Relations
[email protected]