mental health @ ubc for staff and faculty

Mental Health in the Workplace

Vancouver-Burnaby Branch

The Picture of Mental Health of Staff and Faculty at UBC

By 2020, according to the World Health Organization, depression will be second only to

heart disease as a cause of disease burden- years lost through death and years lived with disability.

Mental health issues in the workplace are a rising concern.

A Closer Look at UBC Statistics

Prescription Use

Prescription drugs for the treatment of depression have (in the past) been the third highest of all prescriptions. More recently, it appears depression drugs will pass the usage rates of blood pressure drugs, to become the second largest category of prescription drugs used.

More on Prescription Use

In terms of cost of prescriptions for UBC, depression is costing all of us.

Depression treatment drugs were the most expensive of all drugs used by UBC employees in 2007 (and it appears this is a developing trend).

Employee Family Assistance Program

Stress, mood disorders and anxiety disorders tend to be the top reasons why counselling services are being used.

The Cost of Mental Health Issues at UBC

$0

$100,000

$200,000

$300,000

$400,000

$500,000

$600,000

$700,000

$800,000

$900,000

2005 2006 2007 2008

Psychological Services(Extended Health)Employee and FamilyAssistance ProgramTotal

2008 UBC Disability Claims

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

2008 Disability Claims (Percentage)

Psychological IllnessCancerMusculoskeletalOtherNervous DisordersAccidentInfectious Disase

Resources for UBC Faculty and Staff

What can we offer ourselves and our colleagues?

Healthy UBC Prevention Programs

• Program opportunities• Healthy Workplace Initiatives Program Fund• Healthy UBC Network• Healthy UBC E-Newsletter• More resources are coming next year:

• Individual and organizational toolkits, online resources, more trainings for staff/faculty on mental health issues

Healthy UBC Mental HealthPrograms Offered this Fall

• Understanding Mental Health• Marriage in the Middle Stage• How to Effectively Manage your Time• Resilience: Learning to Roll with Life's Punches• Communication in Family Life• Balance in Life• Managing Stress• Mental Health First Aid• UBC THRIVE Week

Return to Work Program• facilitates the safe and earliest possible return to

work from absence due to injury, illness or a medical condition

• provides assistance and support to staff and faculty while they are absent from work and assist with their return.

• An employee's return to work may involve temporary or permanent modifications or adjustments in job duties or workplace arrangements in order to accommodate a disability of an individual staff or faculty member.

Employee Family Assistance Program

• Confidential short-term counseling available 24/7• Plan Smart services

• Childcare and parenting support• Elder and family care • Financial advisory • Legal advisory • Pre-retirement• Smoking cessation• Shift worker support• E-learning courses• Career counselling• Nutritional counselling

Extended Benefits

• Some coverage of a registered/licensed clinical psychologist are available (depending on employee group)

• Online health assessment• Health library

Your RoleYour Responsibility

“An employer has reason to suspect, or ought reasonably to have suspected, based upon a significant change in an employee’s behaviour or performance, that an employee might be contending with a psychological or stress-related or other condition, the employer should pursue relevant inquiries to determine if there is a disability issue at the heart of the conduct that is resulting in the employee’s inability to meet the normal expectations of the workplace.”

Manitoba Human Rights Commission

Mental Health Problems


Prevalence of Mental Health Problems


1 in 3 Canadians will experience a Mental Health Problem . Psychiatric Disorders are growing faster than heart disease

as a percentage of the global burden of disease. (WHO)

Only 4 % of people with substance use problems are among the visible and highly marginalized populations

Work-related stresses are contributing to higher levels of depression, anxiety and burn out among the 25-54 age group

Impact of Mental Health Problems


Stigma attached to Mental Health Problems

Lost productivity :AbsenteeismPresenteeism Short term and long term disability

Signs and Symptoms of Depression in the Workplace.


Difficulty concentrating & making decisions

Decreased productivity Inability to concentrate Decline in dependability Lack of enthusiasm for work Unusual increase in errors in work Frequent tardiness Increased sick days Out of character behavioural changes

Workplace Stressors


Work Overload or Underload Constant Change

Role Uncertainty Role Conflict

Lack of Job Satisfaction Lack of Job Security

Responsibility for Others Workplace Violence

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety


Physical Symptoms:

Fast or Pounding Heart Headaches Stomach Pains Inability to Relax Sweating Dizziness

Psychological Symptoms:

Excessive Worry Sleep Disturbances Irritability Feeling on the edge Restlessness Difficulty Concentrating

So How Can You Reach out and Help?


1. Help the students...2. Help your co-

workers...

3. Help your clients...4. Help yourselves....

Canadian Mental Health AssociationVancouver-Burnaby Branch


Delivers Workplace Training and Education in Mental Illness :

Mental Health First Aid Adapting to Challenges: Mental Illness and Communication Mental Health Works

Wellness workshop Looking out for Yourself and Others Bounce Back Program

Bounce Back Program


Helps people experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety that may arise from stress or other life circumstances.

Program is offered in two forms: DVD “Living Life to the Full” Guided self help program in which a community coach

provides telephone support

Primary health care provider will suggest Bounce Back Program.

Mental Health First Aid


Developed in Australia at the Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University

Based on the model of medical first aid

The help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.

First aid is given until treatment is received or crisis is resolved

Comments or Questions



For More Information

Department of Health, Safety and Environment www.hse.ubc.ca

Vancouver-Burnaby Branch, CMHA

www.vb.cmha.bc.ca

http://www.hse.ubc.ca/

http://www.vb.cmha.bc.ca/

Thank you


mental health @ ubc for staff and faculty

Health & Medicine