UBC-led study finds almost half of Canadian men at risk of depression

Article content

Nearly half of Canadian men are at risk of depression, with one in three reporting suicidal or self-harming thoughts, according to a survey led by researchers at the University of BC. It reinforces the conclusion that serious gaps remain in the availability of mental health care, especially through the workplace.

Article content

“This is a serious public health crisis,” said Dr. John Ogrodniczuk, director of psychotherapy at UBC and lead researcher. “We need to talk about it and take action.”

Article content

“The findings reveal a surprisingly high level of suicidal ideation among men in the workplace,” Ogrodniczuk added in a news release announcing the findings on Monday.

BC’s Community Savings Credit Union sponsored a survey conducted between June 2021 and February 2022, in which 1,450 participants completed a 148-item survey of standardized, validated questions. did.

According to the responses, nearly half of the respondents crossed the probable threshold for major depression, one of the strongest risk factors for suicide. Suicide remains his second leading cause of death for men under the age of 50, according to the results.

Article content

A third of respondents reported having suicidal or self-harming thoughts “at least a few times a week” and 55% reported feeling lonely.

Mental health issues are not confined to work or men, but the workplace “[provides]an organizational infrastructure and framework that can be used to support mental health,” said founder of the HeadsUpGuys initiative. One Ogrodniczuk said. Direct people to mental health support.

And Mike Schilling, CEO of Community Savings and Credit Union, says the workplace can play a role in shaping “workplace norms that reduce stigma and make it easier to ask for help.” .

“I think any sane person would be very shocked if they could see[mental health issues]the same way they see a broken leg or a broken arm,” Schilling said. “That’s what we’re trying to do with this study. We’re trying to make physical health issues as clear as possible.”

Article content

Schilling said adding mental health support to state systems through legislation would be key, but said, “While we wait for legislation, what we need are progressive employers, good jobs, and more. To be the master, to take the lead, to equate mental health with physical health.”

As BC’s largest fully organized credit union, Shilling said Community Savings sees itself as an advocate for worker well-being. A year ago, Community Savings endorsed a study that looked at how the COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately affecting women’s mental health.

As a follow-up, joining Ogrodniczuk and HeadsUpGuys seemed a natural fit, Schilling said.

Schilling said Community Savings tries to set an example by taking steps such as replacing the term “sick day” with “well day,” and to curb some stigma around mental health. increase.

“We recognize that when people need to take time off from work, it’s not associated with disease, it’s healthier,” Schilling said.

Community Savings also entitles all employees to pay a minimum of $2,000 annually for counseling and other mental health-related services.

“These are the kinds of changes we need to make in terms of how we reconfigure[mental health],” Schilling said.

depenner@postmedia.com

twitter.com/derrickpenner