CMR Canada
Employee and Family
Assistance Programs
Serving Canadians for 21 Years
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CMR Canada
Employee and Family
Assistance Programs
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September 2000
Workers' depression costing Canada billions
The Business and Economic Roundtable on Mental Health estimates that only six per cent of the three million Canadian workers who suffer from depression receive treatment. "If that was a ratio on any
other level, we would pay attention to it," said the group's
co-founder, Bill One cause of depression is increased stress levels tied to mounting workloads, and the computer memos that never seem to stop coming. "Electronic mail is beginning to become a noose around the neck of people who just can't get free of it," Wilkerson said. If ignored, depression can lead
to alcohol and drug abuse, growing absenteeism, and physical problems,
such as heart attacks. "This is an illness that should be identified, and then vigorously treated," said Dr. Russell Joffe. He's the dean of health sciences at McMaster University in Hamilton and a member of the roundtable. The group is headed by a former finance minister, Michael Wilson. He has a personal connection to the sometimes tragic consequences of depression - his son committed suicide. In the next five years, Canadian companies could save up to $7 billion if the employees who needed help for mental illness received it, the roundtable predicted. It urged CEOs to consider treating depression in the workplace a priority. Among other things, the group suggested:
August 4, 2000: The Banff School of Advanced Management reports some organization leaders are starting to think about the cost of employees working extra long days, weekends, and often postponing vacations. Employees (61% of women and 59% of men in a recent Time survey) are opting for less career advancement opportunity and salary to spend more time with their children and other family members. This trend will in our opinion continue to grow. Link: Guide for Supervisors Edited by CMR Canada Reference: CBC Canada
Childhood Depression: Awareness first step in treating teen depression
DIFFICULT TO DETECT But the dangers of depression among young people have received far less attention. Feelings of anxiety, isolation, and hopelessness have always been regarded as a normal part of growing up, as a developing person faces restrictions on behavior while working to build an independent identity. Normal teenage ennui may be part of the problem of identifying depression among the young, but failure to do so can have fatal consequences. Depression is a major factor contributing to suicide, the third leading cause of death for youths 15 to 24. ALWAYS A GRAY DAY Like so many high school students, Leslie Mast regularly struggles with her homework. But she also struggles with depression. “I tried to kill myself in seventh grade when it first came on because I didn’t know what was happening,” she says. She has tried to kill herself several times thereafter. Even after beginning treatment, family life with Leslie was not always easy. “She really didn’t want therapy,” says her mother, Sarah, a single parent. “She didn’t want medication. She didn’t want people to know that this was happening to her.” Mental health experts specializing
in treating children, teens, and young adults estimate that depression
affects 5 to 20 percent of all children. Even though it is one
of the most treatable mental illnesses, says Michael Faenza, NOBODY’S FAULT In his practice, Faenza helps families cope with childhood depression. “Oftentimes depression in children and adolescents comes through as anger and being withdrawn,” he says. “When these continue over several weeks, it’s time to seek professional help and get an evaluation.” Faenza describes depression as a medical condition, specifically, abnormal levels of chemicals in the brain. “It’s nobody’s fault,” says Faenza, who has 20 years experience in the field of adolescent mental health care. Other symptoms also include chronic sadness, withering interest in favorite hobbies or school, and changes in appetite or sleep patterns. According to Faenza, depression can be expressed psychosomatically with headaches, stomachaches, or other ills not connected to disease. GETTING HELP Leslie, who is being treated with
medication, couldn’t tell her mother about her initial suicide
until 3 years after it happened, a heavy burden for her. “At
first I was afraid to tell them, but once you actually have it
out in the open, they’ll help you with it,” she says.
She also knows that talking about her feelings has played an important
role in her recovery. Says Leslie, “It’s really not
good to be depressed all the time. You need to get help because
your life will be so much happier.” She has also re-learned
the joy of spending time with her dogs. “I get therapy at
home from my dogs. They’re just non-judgmental.” SILVER LINING Sarah Mast is grateful some of the happy, smiling side of her daughter is beginning to shine through again, a more carefree spirit reflective of Leslie’s girlhood. “The older Leslie has become, the more she has been able to sort out things in relationships and to understand different things,” reports Sarah. “It’s easier to talk with her about things because she understands it better.” Mother and daughter are both trying to spend more time together. “Parents need to be willing to take the time to listen to their children,” says Sarah. “We are so busy these days. That’s been a lot of Leslie’s concern: she didn’t want to bother me.” Link: More information about childhood depression. Edited by CMR Canada Reference: innx health
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CMR Canada PROFILE CMR Canada, a national EFAP management firm founded in Alberta in 1990, delivers programs and services that enhance the health and performance capability of individuals and organizations. The firm delivers services to individuals plus their families in organizations located throughout Alberta - Municipal Governments, Hospitals, Unions, Universities, and Corporations and the General Public. Interventions, the EFAP Journal of CMR Canada, is available to clients without cost. CMR's organization is simple, efficient, and highly effective leaving the majority of resources, financial and human, to provide service to clients and their families. The firm has extensive experience in designing, implementing, resourcing, evaluating, and managing Assistance Programs. CMR has an unlimited supply of qualified professionals to engage as needed. Professionals are partnered or on contract to CMR. Included are Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, Family Therapists, Crisis Counsellors, Career Counsellors, and Certified Human Resource Professionals. Working principles: keep the business small; deliver extraordinary personal service; keep the costs low. This highly efficient and effective business model allows CMR to deliver high quality programs and services at lower cost with increased accountability - and select the most experienced and capable professionals. To request more information or a counsellor, click on Request for Service. CMR Canada - Employee and Family Assistance Programs Head Office Suite 3500, Bow Valley Square 2 205 - 5 Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta T2P2V7 Telephone (403)263-2200 in Calgary, or 1-800-567-9953 from elsewhere Fax (403)256-8291 E-Mail: CMR Canada Alberta Locations Athabasca, Barrhead, Calgary, Camrose, Drayton Valley, Edmonton, Edson, Fort McMurray, High Prairie, Hinton, Jasper, Grande Prairie, Lac La Biche, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, Peace River, Pincher Creek, Red Deer, St. Paul , Wainwright |
CMR Canada - Employee and Family Assistance Programs
Head Office: Suite 600, Bow Valley Square 4, 250 - 6 Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P3H7
Telephone (403) 263-2200 Fax (403) 256-8291 E-mail: 
TORONTO-- Some doctors and business leaders
are calling on companies to do more to help employees deal with
depression, caused in part by an endless stream of computer e-mail.
director of the (US) National Mental Health Association,
fewer than half of kids who need help actually receive it. “Kids
sometimes are not easily detected as being depressed because their
symptoms are often very different than adults,” says Faenza.
“You don’t usually have young people telling you that
they feel depressed or they’re sad.”
