Mental health in the workplace

First responder organizations are developing programs to support members with work-related post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI). But implementation of such programs can be a challenge. An IWH study, conducted in Alberta, examined the implementation barriers and facilitators, as part of an effort to produce a practical implementation resource.

Published: July 2026

A new evidence-based resource has been developed to provide practical guidance to first responder organizations that are looking to deliver programs to support their workers and to reduce work disability related to PTSI. The resource provides considerations along the various stages of planning, delivering and maintaining such a program.

Published: July 2026

Socioeconomic status is a powerful predictor of child health and development. A key factor shaping household socioeconomic status is the quality of parental employment. As the labour market in Canada has shifted towards more precarious forms of work, a growing share of parents are having to rely on casual, insecure, and low-wage jobs to make ends meet. The declining quality of parental employment has significant but underappreciated implications for children and their families. In this talk, Dr. Faraz Vahid Shahidi will present findings from research examining parental employment quality as a social determinant of children’s mental health and development in Canada. By drawing attention to an upstream driver of early-life socioeconomic disadvantage, this research can help inform policies and programmes aimed at promoting child health and health equity.

Published: June 2026

This project establishes a national partnership among researchers, industry stakeholders, and mental health experts to co-produce evidence needed to inform and prioritize actionable strategies to reduce the burden of suicide and substance use in the construction workforce.

Status: Ongoing

According to a new report, the annual cost of mental health challenges in Canada is estimated to be $180 billion. Most of these costs are borne by employers and businesses, and are directed toward reactive responses to mental health conditions, rather than proactive approaches or treatment.

Published: June 2026

The prevalence of post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) among first responders is extremely high, often leading to work disability. While many first responder organizations are developing PTSI policies and programs, they have noted the challenges they face in program implementation in the workplace. To better understand these experiences and challenges, an IWH research team conducted a study with stakeholders from first responder organizations in Alberta, Canada. Based on the findings and on existing implementation frameworks, this resource provides an overview of key implementation steps to consider when planning, implementing/delivering) and maintaining/sustaining PTSI programs in the workplace.

Published: May 2026

Compared to the overall labour force in Ontario and Alberta, construction workers are almost twice as likely to die because of suicide and are two and a half times as likely to die because of substance use. Those are some of the early findings from a new analysis by the Institute for Work and Health, which identifies what some are calling a crisis among construction workers, writes Lindsay Kelly.

Published: Northern Ontario Business, May 2026

When it comes to employees’ psychological health, Australian employers are increasingly focusing on reducing psychosocial risks in the workplace — and there are lessons for Canadian employers in this approach, writes Blake Wolfe, reporting on a webinar presentation by Dr. Peter Smith hosted by the Institute for Work & Health, during a webinar hosted by the organization on Tuesday.

Published: Benefits Canada, May 2026

As work-related psychological injuries continue to increase, both in number and costs compared to physical injuries, interest has also been growing about different approaches across jurisdictions to prevent and manage these conditions. An Institute for Work & Health team recently conducted a modified environmental scan across 22 jurisdictions in Canada and Australia. In this presentation, lead researcher Dr. Peter Smith shares the results from this project. He also outlines other relevant research from IWH on psychosocial work factors and challenges in return to work for work-related psychological conditions.

Published: May 2026

Work-related psychological injuries are associated with longer durations, higher costs, and more complex return-to-work processes than physical injuries. While governments and system partners are investing in prevention and management strategies, approaches vary considerably. This project looked at how different jurisdictions in Canada and Australia prevent workplace psychosocial hazards, define and compensate psychological injuries, and support workers through recovery and return to work.

Published: May 2026