Occupational Mental Health

Stressors in the workplace

Income inequality: According to the report, income inequality increased in Toronto by 31 per cent between 1980 and 2005, the most drastic increase of any major Canadian city.

Job insecurity: Fewer than half of all workers in the GTA and Hamilton are in permanent, full-time jobs with benefits, according to research from the United Way and McMaster University. Not knowing if your job will be there from one day to the next can be a huge source of stress and anxiety.

Racial discrimination: A 2011 University of Toronto study showed resumes with English-sounding names are 35 per cent more likely to get call-backs than identical resumes with Indian or Chinese names.

Family care demands: According to the report, over the next 10 years people in the GTHA workforce could have to provide about 450 million unpaid hours of caregiving to family members with dementia, which will cost about $30.4 billion in lost productivity.

Housing conditions and affordability: With housing prices sky-high, difficulty securing an affordable place to live is another factor that can affect mental health.