Survey reveals more Canadians now view mental illness as a disability

With the issue of mental health now considered an important topic, a recent poll from RBC Insurance has found that the number of working Canadians who consider mental diseases to be disabilities has reached a new level.

In its survey of Canadian workers, RBC found 54% and 44% of respondents now regard depression and anxiety, respectively, as a disability. Those figures represented the highest levels since 2019. Similarly, slightly over half of the population (54%) assess their mental health as outstanding or good, a dramatic reduction of 12 percentage points from the same time last year.

Maria Winslow, Senior Director at Life & Health, RBC Insurance, said, “Over the years, we have seen more and more Canadians recognizing that disabilities can be mental, and not just physical in nature. This is an important shift, particularly as people continue to deal with the ongoing stresses of the pandemic and they continue to report a decline in their mental health.” 

Mental health issues were reported by significantly more respondents aged 18-34 (69% anxiety, 59% depression) than those 55 and older (42% and 29%, respectively), suggesting that pandemic-related stressors have had a particularly negative impact on younger people, according to Winslow.

These findings are backed up by real claims patterns among RBC Insurance clients: in 2021, more than a third (35%) of new individual long-term disability claims for younger clients (18-39) were connected to mental health, a trend that has been increasing since 2019.

Furthermore, the survey showed that Canadians with poor mental health are more likely to be disabled and take time off.

Underscoring the significance of mental health to overall well-being, the survey findings showed Canadians with poor mental health (32%) are more likely than those with excellent mental health to take time off due to disability (12%).

Burnout was the leading cause of stress among working Canadians (42%), reflecting possible effects of the pandemic such as dread, uncertainty, and instability at work and at home. Finances, as well as income protection if they become ill or contract COVID-19, were the second most stressful factor for almost as many (39%) people, followed by increasing work hours/workload (33%).

Individuals with support were much less likely to experience stress or worry; Canadians who had a group benefits plan (60%) and purchased their own disability coverage (66%) were more likely to evaluate their mental health as excellent or good.

The number of people who said their mental health was outstanding or good in 2021 is down (-8 points) from the previous year. At the same time, fewer individuals say they have disability insurance, either via their employer (-6 points) or through an individual disability plan (-9 points), which may help replace lost income if someone is unable to work for a lengthy period of time.

“The number of Canadians with disability coverage has declined from the peak of the pandemic to today,” Winslow added. “But as mental health challenges continue to rise and the future remains uncertain, it’s more important than ever for all Canadians to consider their options for financial protection.”