Study by Environics Research commissioned by
Dialogue reveals Canadians don't have the resources to improve
well-being, and expect employers to help
MONTREAL, April 13,
2023 /CNW/ - New research reveals that Canadians are
prioritizing their well-being more than ever before in the face of
increased physical and mental health concerns. With financial
barriers and lack of time preventing them from doing so, they
expect support from employers.
The Canadian perspectives on health, wellness, and employee
benefits report is a research initiative that highlights top
health and well-being challenges facing Canadians across the
country commissioned by Dialogue Health Technologies
Inc. (TSX: CARE) ("Dialogue"), Canada's premier care and wellness platform,
and conducted by Environics Research, a Canadian market research
firm providing evidence-based insights for over 50 years. The
report includes new trends and insights into the well-being of
Canadians, as well as the barriers to improvement and expectations
of the role employers must play.
70% of Canadians are more conscious of their health in the past
few years, a 14% increase since 2021. This comes in the wake of
health concerns, where over 1 in 3 people reported that their
physical health, mental health, and/or financial situation has
worsened or significantly worsened over the past two years. When
focusing on remote workers, 55% have noticed more stress and
anxiety. While most are comfortable seeking mental health support
considering decreased stigma, only half indicate having the
financial means to do so.
"Physical and mental health concerns have significant impacts
on well-being, and, left untreated, can have many downstream
effects on productivity and contribute to chronic health
issues," shared Dr. Stephanie
Moynihan, Associate Medical Director at Dialogue. "It's
important for Canadians to recognize the barriers to improve not
only their physical and mental health, but their overall
well-being. Being well is more than just not being sick, and
establishing healthier habits can not only help reverse or better
control chronic physical and mental health issues, but prevent
them."
Financial barriers (40%) and lack of time (32%) prevent
Canadians from prioritizing their well-being, and employees are
increasingly expecting support from their employers. 9 out of 10
Canadians are saying it's important for employers to provide
support to improve well-being, but only half of employees have
noticed employers taking action.
Current support is insufficient, or is missing the mark. 40% of
Canadians never accessed their Employee Assistance Program (EAP),
and 1 in 3 consider mental health support provided through benefit
plans to be insufficient. 7 in 10 employees also reported that
managers have not been sufficiently trained or lack the training to
recognize and support their mental health needs.
"As Canadians report worsening physical and mental health, as
well as financial pressures – issues that can be further
exacerbated by working situations, they are expecting more support
from their employers," said Ahsan
Sadiq, Vice President, Health & Wellness at Environics.
"Employer-paid services, when accessible and socialized, can
boost well-being indicators and provide an important return on
investment through increased job satisfaction and
retention."
Beyond EAPs, virtual care has been increasingly offered through
employer-paid solutions to bolster well-being. 77% of Canadians
agree that it is the future of healthcare, especially when physical
and mental health professionals have a complete view of their
health and well-being. Most Canadians also prioritize having access
to a variety of support in one central place, and are just as
likely to support themselves with self-guided mental health tools
and resources as they are to communicate with a professional.
When considering how to better support employees, employers must
keep in mind that Canadians are expecting more. The incentive for
employers is clear, as investing in well-being has been shown to
increase job satisfaction, productivity and retention.
The full report can be found here.
About Dialogue
Incorporated in 2016, Dialogue is Canada's premier virtual healthcare and
wellness platform, providing affordable, on-demand access to
quality care. Through our team of health professionals, we serve
employers and organizations who have an interest in the health and
well-being of their employees, members and their families. Our
Integrated Health Platform™ is a one-stop healthcare hub that
centralizes all of our programs in a single, user-friendly
application, providing access to services 24 hours per day, 365
days per year from the convenience of a smartphone, computer or
tablet. Dialogue is the first virtual care provider to receive the
Accreditation Canada Primer award, a third-party validation of
safety and high-level quality of care.
About Environics
Research
Environics Research is a Canadian market research firm that
provides organizations with actionable, evidence-based solutions to
real business problems. Environics Research partners with clients
to understand the business challenges they face and leverage
innovative and creative solutions to generate understanding and
insights. Founded in 1970, Environics Research delivers
evidence-based solutions to clients working in a range of sectors
and industries.
SOURCE Dialogue Health Technologies Inc.