Written by HEAL
Created: 23 August 2017
HEAL (Organizations for Health Action) is a coalition of 40 national health and consumer associations and organizations dedicated to protecting and strengthening Canada's health care system. It represents more than 650,000 providers and consumers of health care.
HEAL addresses its 2018 pre-budget submission to the first of the federal government’s questions to Canadians:
What federal measures would help Canadians to be more productive? For example, what education and training, health, housing and labour market participation and mobility measures would help Canadians to be as productive as possible in their workplaces and their communities?
Mental health impacts the productivity and success of businesses and poses significant cost to the economy. Mental illness accounts for about 15% of all diseases in Canada yet it is the number one cause of disability in this country. The economic costs of mental illness in Canada are approximately $50 billion per year and the cost of productivity loss due to mental health and addictions is $20 billion.
The health of Canada’s workplace depends in no small measure on the mental health of its employees. While Canada has made strides in recognizing the gaps Canadians face in accessing mental health services and supports, it is now time to redress these gaps by delivering the services and supports Canadians need.