Your mental wellness: Too important to ignore
More health care employees than ever before are off work because they are mentally unwell. This growing number shows up in BC-wide statistics of health care employee disability claims and is particularly noticeable at Vancouver Coastal Health.
In 2001, 32% of disability claims at VCH were ‘musculoskeletal and connective tissue’ injuries, followed by 26% ‘mental and nervous’ diagnoses. In the 2011, data (the most recent available) these top categories have reversed with 31% of claims in the ‘mental and nervous’ category and 24% ‘musculoskeletal and connective tissue.’
“Psychiatric illness is now the leading diagnosis for disability claims made by VCH employees,” said Catherine Fast, executive director of Workplace Health. “We want to change that. We want employees to know that we’re concerned about their wellness and that there are supports and help available at VCH to prevent illness and disability.”
What is a mental illness?
This can range from mild to moderate depression or anxiety (the most common) to severe depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis and other less common but potentially debilitating disorders. *
What’s driving the increase?
While it’s impossible to know for sure, there could be a number of things contributing to this rise. Mental health issues can be triggered by stressful life events or stressful situations at work or at home. People with a history of mental illness in their family may be at greater risk of developing illness themselves. As stigma is slowly reducing with campaigns like BellCanada’s “Let’s talk” people may also be reporting their condition more than they might have in the past.
What can be done?
Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial to recovery and management of mental health. Self care is also a large factor—nutrition, exercise, sleep and social activity are all important in prevention and recovery. VCH employees and their immediate family members have access to free and confidential help through the Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP). This includes various forms of individual or family therapy and counseling offered face to face, by phone, by video or onlinbne. There’s also legal, financial and wellness services. EFAP is here to help.
Reaching out
If you know someone at work who you think may be experiencing mental health issues, you can reach out. It’s OK to ask them how they’re feeling or if they’re doing OK. If they say they’re not doing well, encourage them to talk to their doctor, manager or union representative, or to contact EFAP.
More information
Visit the Employee & Family Assistance Program website, email or call 604-872-4929 (toll-free 1-800-505-4929 outside of Vancouver). Your call is confidential.
*Only a qualified health professional can diagnose a mental illness.