Mental health in the workplace

Socioeconomic status is a powerful predictor of child health and development. A key factor shaping household socioeconomic status is the quality of parental employment. As the labour market in Canada has shifted towards more precarious forms of work, a growing share of parents are having to rely on casual, insecure, and low-wage jobs to make ends meet. The declining quality of parental employment has significant but underappreciated implications for children and their families. In this talk, Dr. Faraz Vahid Shahidi will present findings from research examining parental employment quality as a social determinant of children’s mental health and development in Canada. By drawing attention to an upstream driver of early-life socioeconomic disadvantage, this research can help inform policies and programmes aimed at promoting child health and health equity.

Published: June 2026

According to a new report, the annual cost of mental health challenges in Canada is estimated to be $180 billion. Most of these costs are borne by employers and businesses, and are directed toward reactive responses to mental health conditions, rather than proactive approaches or treatment.

Published: June 2026

The prevalence of post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) among first responders is extremely high, often leading to work disability. Studies have shown that organizational policies and practices have an important impact on PTSI. However, previous research conducted at IWH revealed that many first responder workplaces are developing PTSI policies and programs, they often face challenges to program implementation.

Based on interviews and workshops with first responders in Alberta about their experiences with program implementation, an IWH follow-up study has synthesized findings and key themes related to implementation processes—including contextual factors, facilitators and barriers. This resource, co-developed with Alberta stakeholders, outlines key implementation steps to consider when planning, implementing (delivering) and maintaining/sustaining PTSI programs in the workplace.

Published: May 2026

As work-related psychological injuries continue to increase, both in number and costs compared to physical injuries, interest has also been growing about different approaches across jurisdictions to prevent and manage these conditions. An Institute for Work & Health team recently conducted a modified environmental scan across 22 jurisdictions in Canada and Australia. In this presentation, lead researcher Dr. Peter Smith shares the results from this project. He also outlines other relevant research from IWH on psychosocial work factors and challenges in return to work for work-related psychological conditions.

Published: May 2026

Work-related psychological injuries are increasing across jurisdictions in Canada and Australia. They are associated with longer durations, higher costs, and more complex return-to-work processes than physical injuries. While governments and system partners are investing in prevention and management strategies, approaches vary considerably. There is limited comparative evidence to inform policy and program design on what works best. To understand the strategies and activities implemented to reduce the impact of psychological injuries, this project looked at how different jurisdictions in Canada and Australia prevent workplace psychosocial hazards, define and compensate psychological injuries, and support workers through recovery and return to work.

Published: May 2026

Work injury prevention and workers’ compensation agencies in Canada and Australia have a growing interest in approaches to prevent and manage work-related psychological injuries. This is due to the increasing number of these conditions, and their greater wage replacement and health-care costs compared to physical injuries. Despite this interest, there have been few formal comparative overviews of approaches taken to prevent and/or manage these types of injuries across different jurisdictions.

The objective of this project was to explore the extent to which workers’ compensation systems provide coverage for different types of psychological injuries; the strategies both workers’ compensation systems and occupational health and safety (OHS) prevention agencies adopt to address psychosocial exposures in the workplace both before and after injuries occur; and the benefits, challenges and other outcomes of each of these strategies from the perspective of those working in these jurisdictions. The findings from this project will be of interest to policy-makers in other jurisdictions, both within Canada and Australia, and more broadly.

Published: May 2026

Published: Disability & Rehabilitation, May 2026

Published: Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada, April 2026

First responders face high rates of post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI) due to the nature of their jobs. In response, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board commissioned an intensive, 14-week treatment program tailored to these workers. A multi-part evaluation of the program, conducted in part by IWH, has found that participants did not show improvements in return-to-work rates. However, most participants stuck with the program for the full duration, and a quarter saw symptom improvements.

Published: March 2026

Published: The Lancet Regional Health, March 2026