Work trumps mental health risks for younger, lower-income earners

A new poll from Ipsos suggests as many as one third of Canadians are at an elevated risk of a mental health disorder, with that rate surging to as many as half among younger respondents, chiefly millennials.

Yet, many aren’t letting mental health risks interfere with their work lives.

According to the same study, which quizzed respondents on their overall happiness among other things, just one in 10 respondents “has taken time off work or school to deal with a personal mental-health issue.” One in 20 has done so to aid a family member or friend.

Those response rates fall well short of the number of people who say they’ve suffered — or are suffering — from chronic depression or other health issues, notably among younger workers or those lower down the income scale.

WATCH: How well do Canadians understand their own mental health?

That could be a function of a more challenging post-recession job market – asking for time off may be unpalatable for many in a labour market where more workers find themselves in less secure employment conditions and pay hasn’t budged for many.

That’s evidenced notably among younger millennials who are entering the workforce and clasping the first slippery rungs of the employment ladder.

MORE: Canadian millennials hit hardest by mental health woes 

According to the new Ipsos poll data produced for Global News, younger workers (18-34) say they’re feeling particularly strained. When asked if they’ve ever felt depressed to the point of feeling hopelessness for weeks on end, 15 per cent of younger respondents conceded this has happened several times in the past year. Seventeen per cent said it happened to them at least once.

Lower income, higher risk

Another key finding in the Global News/Ipsos poll: making less money appears to increase strain on mental health, the poll suggests.

Not exactly a revelation perhaps. Nevertheless, the poll puts numbers to the sentiment, with an eye-popping 44 per cent of respondents from households headed by an income earner making $40,000 being identified as a “high risk” of developing depression or other mental health malady in Ipsos’ mental health index. In contrast, the corresponding responses from households making $100,000 or more was 23 per cent.

“This is affecting lower income people more than it’s affecting upper income people,” Wright said.

Yet similar to millennials seeking to land a steady job, lower income households likely don’t possess the financial latitude or courage to ask for time off. Instead, most appear to carry their risks into the workplace.

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If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help, resources are available. In case of an emergency, please call 911. 911 can send immediate help. Visit suicideprevention.ca for a list of resources.

Exclusive Global News Ipsos polls are protected by copyright. The information and/or data may only be rebroadcast or republished with full and proper credit and attribution to “Global News Ipsos.” This poll was conducted between April 16 and April 20, with a sample of 2,010 Canadians and is accurate to within 2.5 percentage points 19 times out of 20.