1. Research priorities

Mental health and work

Awareness is growing about the importance of how the work environment, in particular the psychosocial environment, can impact the mental health of workers. Awareness is also growing about the differing work accommodation and return-to-work needs of workers with mental—versus physical—health conditions. Our research aims to identify and measure psychosocial hazards and explore how dimensions of the psychosocial work environment can promote positive mental health or lead to poorer mental health. Our research also explores workplace and system-level strategies for helping workers with mental health conditions—including post-traumatic stress disorders—stay in and return to work.

Latest findings

A woman working at a laptop looks out the window with her head resting on her hand

Workplace supports buffer productivity impacts of rheumatic diseases and depression

Young adults who live with both a rheumatic disease and depression have lower productivity than those who have only one or neither condition. That’s according to a new IWH study. Findings from this small study also suggest that having a supportive working environment can buffer lost productivity.
A man works at a computer in an dark, empty office late at night, with his head in his hand

Working unpaid overtime linked with high stress and burnout: IWH study

Building on research linking overtime work to mental health concerns, an IWH study investigated how unpaid overtime is associated with mental health in Canada’s working population. They found that that the more unpaid overtime hours worked, the more likely a worker is to report stress and burnout.
A woman dressed in work attire looks out a window with her arms folded.

What is the impact of depression on years of employment among working-age adults?

If someone experiences depression, what is the impact on the length of their future working life? It depends on how, and when, someone experiences depression. An IWH study found five trajectories of depression in working adults, each with varied impacts on the length of their working life.

Featured guide

Evidence-informed guide to supporting people with depression in the workplace

Learn what to do when you, your co-workers or employees experience depressive symptoms at work.

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Featured resource

RTW in policing: time to ACT

This summary of an IWH research project outlines challenges in return to work within police services related to three key themes: accommodation, communication and trust-building, all within the culture and context of policing.

Police sirens at night

Ongoing projects

TIE-C-MI: Trajectories of Income and Employment of Canadians with Mental Illness

This project aims to understand the employment and income experiences of Canadians with mental and substance use disorders during their prime working years. This information is a necessary first step to identifying the most appropriate time to implement health- and labour-related interventions to retain these Canadians in the workforce.

Understanding the role of parental employment quality in child mental health

An IWH study is using general population surveys in Canada to better understand the role of parental employment quality as a social determinant of child mental health.

ECHO PSP: Piloting the use of the ECHO model to promote recovery and return-to-work among public safety personnel in Ontario

This pilot project is evaluating the use of the ECHO model in Ontario to improve return-to-work support for injured firefighters, paramedics, police officers and other public safety personnel.

Implementation of PTSI programs in Alberta first responder organizations

This project examines approaches to implementing post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) programs in Alberta first responder organizations

First Responder Mental Health Treatment Services: Formative evaluation of a pilot program

IWH is collaborating with the Institute for Better Health to evaluate a WSIB pilot program treating first responders with work-related mental health injuries.

Evidence-informed workplace policies and practices for the prevention of PTSI work disability

An IWH study will add to the guidance available to first responders (police, firefighters, paramedics) in Alberta and beyond on the workplace policies and practices that may help prevent PTSIs.

Return to work in policing: synthesizing current practices and implementation guidance

An IWH research team is exploring return to work in policing, by combining the best available research evidence on what works with the practices currently being used by Ontario police services that they identify as effective. The project is expected to culminate in a guide to support the implementation of RTW programs in Ontario police services.

Developing a Canadian work disability standard for paramedics with post-traumatic stress injury

The Institute for Work & Health and Conestoga College are working with CSA Group to develop a Canadian standard on work disability prevention for paramedics with post-traumatic stress injuries.

Accommodating and Communicating about Episodic Disabilities (ACED): A partnership to deliver workplace resources to sustain employment of people with chronic, episodic conditions

A multi-partner research team led by IWH is seeking to develop evidence-informed resources to facilitate communication and accommodation planning among workers with episodic mental and physical health conditions, supervisors and other workplace parties.

Assessing the psychosocial work environment in British Columbia to inform prevention activities

WorkSafeBC is in the initial stages of developing and implementing an Enterprise Mental Health Strategy. As part of its development and evaluation efforts, this project will fill knowledge gaps in the understanding of the psychosocial work environment in British Columbia, as well as workers' awareness of its impact as a workplace hazard.

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