Anxiety in Canada

Effects of high anxiety/stress on health and personal life

• Health effects

  • Sleep disturbance and fatigue
  • Headaches, muscle tension, chest tightness or palpitations
  • Digestive issues and lowered immune function

• Mental and cognitive effects

  • Persistent worry and rumination; concentration difficulties
  • Mood changes (irritability, sadness) and risk of burnout

• Personal life

  • Strained relationships and communication challenges
  • Withdrawal from social activities; parenting or caregiving stress
  • Unhealthy coping (excess caffeine/alcohol)

• Workplace and daily functioning

  • Reduced productivity, poor decision-making, increased errors
  • Higher interpersonal tension and avoidance of tasks

• What to do now (quick steps)

  • Try a grounding breathing exercise (box breathing: inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4)
  • Prioritize sleep: consistent schedule, wind-down routine, limit screens before bed
  • Reach out: talk to someone you trust; consider a session with a mental health professional or your employer’s EAP
  • Seek workplace supports: ask for breaks, realistic task lists, or flexible hours if possible

• Canada resources and October

  • In Canada, you can access medical care and referrals through provincial health systems; many employers offer EAPs. Digital options like October provide scalable support through group sessions, assessments, and educational content—discuss with your employer about access. If in crisis, contact local emergency services (911) or a crisis line.

Economic impacts of high anxiety and stress

• Productivity losses: anxiety impairs concentration, memory, and decision-making, increasing absenteeism and presenteeism and lowering output.
• Talent and labor market effects: higher turnover, longer vacancies, recruitment costs, and potential reductions in labor force participation.
• Health care and social costs: more visits to primary care and mental health specialists, medication use, and disability or workers’ compensation claims.
• Consumer behavior and macro demand: cautious spending, higher savings, and slower uptake of major purchases, including housing, dampening demand.
• Long-term growth and innovation: lower risk tolerance and slower skills development, potentially reducing productivity growth and competitiveness.

Workplace implications and mitigations for Canada

• Invest in accessible mental health supports (employee assistance programs, teletherapy, digital group sessions). October can provide group sessions, assessments, and content.
• Improve workload management and offer flexible work options to reduce sustained stress.
• Train managers to recognize anxiety signs and foster psychological safety and supportive leadership.
• Monitor and measure impact (sick days, turnover, engagement) to guide cost-effective mental health investments.

• Increase access to mental health care

  • Expand publicly funded services, reduce wait times, integrate mental health into primary care; expand tele-mental health across provinces; scale via digital platforms like October for group sessions where appropriate.

• Improve financial and housing security

  • Ensure nationwide paid sick leave; strengthen unemployment supports; expand affordable housing and cost-of-living subsidies; provide emergency financial relief during crises.

• Strengthen workplace mental health

  • Develop and enforce national employer guidelines; provide paid mental health days; promote flexible work and accommodations; require or incentivize comprehensive mental health benefits; encourage adoption of digital programs like October; train managers to support staff.

• Reduce stigma and boost mental health literacy

  • Run national anti-stigma campaigns; integrate mental health education into schools and workplaces; offer accessible self-help resources and manager training.

• Focus on youth and families

  • Expand school-based mental health services; fund early-intervention programs; implement accessible digital resources for families and students.

• Data, research, and cross-sector coordination

  • Establish national mental health surveillance and reporting; fund ongoing research; align federal-provincial-territorial policies to ensure equity of access.

• Normalize mental health and reduce stigma; leadership models openness, with regular conversations and paid mental health days.
• Manage workload and expectations; set realistic deadlines, clear priorities, and regular check-ins.
• Offer flexible and predictable schedules; remote/hybrid options, core hours, and guaranteed breaks.
• Provide easy access to support; Employee Assistance Programs, licensed counselling, and October digital group sessions and assessments.
• Train managers and foster psychological safety; empathetic listening, safe reporting, and no retaliation.
• Create wellbeing-friendly environments; breaks, quiet spaces, opportunities for movement, sleep hygiene, and compliant with Canadian OH&S and privacy laws.