Beyond employment rates: The long-term work experiences of Canadians with mental health conditions

People living with a mental health condition often face a lower likelihood of employment than those without such conditions. Yet in Canada, we know far less about the diversity of employment experiences for people with mental health conditions, and how these experiences change over time. In this presentation, Dr. Kathleen Dobson examines the long-term employment trajectories of Canadians living with common mental disorders, severe mental disorders, and substance use disorders. Drawing on 25 years of linked survey and tax data, she explores whether, compared to those without these conditions, people with these conditions are more likely to exit the workforce early, experience unstable employment, or sustain work across their prime working years.