The Calgary Chamber launches mental health report for businesses and employees

Press Release

October 3, 2014

CALGARY – Today the Calgary Chamber launches a new report that takes a look at the impact of mental health in the workplace, and provides a comprehensive review of the resources available for both employers and employees alike.

Mental health in the workplace illustrates that when businesses invest in mental health support and work to remove the stigmas behind mental illness, they can not only improve productivity, but also increase employee retention.

“The importance of physical health and safety in the workplace has been widely accepted, however work also impacts mental health and psychological safety,” says Adam Legge, President and CEO of the Calgary Chamber. “500,000 Canadians miss work every day because of mental health problems or illnesses, but we can make great strides to reduce those numbers through support and open discussion.”

In 2011 alone, Canadian businesses lost upwards of $6.4 billion dollars due to lost productivity as a result of mental illness. The report shows that for every dollar spent on mental health, it results in $2.30 in benefits gained by the organization.

The Calgary Chamber is encouraging businesses of all sizes to develop a mental health strategy and work proactively to engage in open discussions around mental illness.

The report can be viewed online at CalgaryChamber.com/MentalHealthReport.

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For more information or interview requests contact Greg Callsen at gcallsen@calgarychamber.com or by calling 403 750 0434

NT3