Mental health in the workplace is a significant issue affecting millions and significantly costing the Canadian economy. Finances are a troubling issue and there is also the problem of well-being, as poor mental health significantly impacts workers’ productivity. The increasing number of employees struggling with mental health in Canada affects finances and the workers’ well-being and evidence-based practice is a solution for dealing with it.
The scourge of mental health has financial impacts on the economy. More than 6 million Canadians suffer from mental health problems, resulting in the economy losing approximately 50 billion dollars annually (Dimoff & Kelloway, 2013). Equally important, the mental health burden in Canadian care will continue rising over the following years to exceed 2.5 trillion dollars (Dimoff & Kelloway, 2013). The country could have redirected the money to other crucial ventures, such as infrastructure. Consequently, there is a need to reduce the mental health pandemic as it will help Canada save money.
Poor mental health also has an impact on the employees’ well-being and companies should use evidence-based practices in treating the workers. There is ample research detailing the increased rates of absenteeism, turnover, burnout, and injuries resulting from mental health issues (Dimoff & Kelloway, 2013). Hence, employers must recognize the signs of poor mental issues and create a positive work environment. The article also gave a specific example of a mental health strategy – evidence-based practice (Dimoff & Kelloway, 2013). It is a framework that identifies and develops the most effective approach for employees and employers. Interestingly, by focusing on a scientific approach, the researchers reveal that employers must evaluate the practice to reduce the probability of invalid conclusions.
Despite the focus on Canada, it was not surprising to see that mental health problem is not constrained to that region alone. The world suffers from low mental health literacy, with many suffering from human rights violations due to psychological conditions. When looking at the work environment, many focus only on the physical aspect, analyzing the protective gear and exposure to contaminants and pollutants. However, it is common knowledge that mental health is fundamental in providing a healthy environment. Hence, everyone should join forces in mitigating the issue to prevent the carnage currently witnessed in Canada.
However, there are potential missing concepts in the article on specific examples of evidence-based practices and the value of communication. There are many examples of such practices, particularly interpersonal psychotherapy, social skills training, and motivational talk in the workplace. The researchers should have touched on at least one of them, discussing its implementation or benefits. Communication and dialogue between employees and employers are valuable in reducing mental health problems. Communication is critical in fostering trust, promoting emotional well-being, and facilitating practical problem-solving skills in the workplace.
Generally, the paper shows high critical thinking by looking at mental health problems from an economic angle and the perspective of employers and employees. It also discusses the importance of evidence-based practice in coming up with effective solutions while highlighting violations and the stigma of victims. Citations and references added to the credibility and authority of the information, giving the readers an avenue to further investigate shocking details.
Reference
Dimoff, J. K., & Kelloway, E. K. (2013). Bridging the gap: Workplace mental health research in Canada. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne, 54(4), 203. Web.