Self-esteem in Canada

Effects of high self-esteem stress on health and personal life

Health effects

• Sleep problems (trouble falling/staying asleep; non-restorative sleep)
• Physical tension (headaches, neck/shoulder stiffness; muscle fatigue)
• Increased sympathetic arousal (higher heart rate, blood pressure; chronic fatigue)
• Mental health strain (persistent worry, rumination, mood swings; burnout risk)
• Coping by unhealthy means (excess caffeine/alcohol; compulsive checking or perfectionistic behaviors)

Personal life effects

• Strained relationships (defensiveness, irritability, difficulty listening)
• Reduced vulnerability and intimacy due to fear of failure
• Work-life imbalance (overworking to protect self-image; neglecting personal needs)
• Social withdrawal or avoidance of criticism, limiting supportive connections

Coping strategies (workplace-relevant)

• Cultivate self-compassion and reframe worth beyond performance
• Set realistic, concrete goals; view failures as feedback
• Establish boundaries; delegate; ask for help when needed
• Use brief mindfulness or cognitive-behavioral techniques to challenge perfectionistic thoughts
• Prioritize sleep, regular exercise, healthy meals; limit stimulants or substances
• Leverage workplace support: employee assistance programs (EAP); wellness resources
• Consider structured support (e.g., October digital group sessions) if appropriate for your situation

When to seek help

• Symptoms persist for weeks and impair functioning
• Persistent anxiety, depression, or thoughts of self-harm

Canada-focused resources

• Talk to your EAP or workplace health services
• Wellness Together Canada: wellness-together.ca
• If in crisis, contact local emergency services or provincial crisis lines

Macro-level effects of high self-esteem stress on the economy (Canada-focused)

• Increased healthcare costs and productivity losses due to higher rates of anxiety, burnout, and related health issues.

• More absenteeism and presenteeism, reducing overall labor output and firm performance.

• Lower consumer and business confidence leading to cautious spending and investment behavior, potentially slowing growth.

• Strain on public finances and slower long-term growth due to higher demand for mental health services and social supports, plus potential talent attrition.

Workplace implications and interventions (Canada)

• Implement mental health supports, reduce stigma, and promote flexible work arrangements to lessen self-esteem stress impact.

• Provide accessible care via digital programs (e.g., October) for scalable, stigma-free support and assessments.

• Encourage leadership training and peer-support structures to buffer self-esteem-related stress and maintain productivity.

National actions to reduce self-esteem stress

• Promote mental health literacy and stigma reduction across schools, workplaces, and media. Include self-esteem, resilience, and coping skills; use public campaigns and scalable digital resources (e.g., October) to reach diverse communities.

• Invest in social-emotional learning and inclusive education for youth. Train teachers to recognize early signs of self-esteem distress and provide supportive, evidence-based interventions.

• Expand access to affordable, timely mental health care. Fund counselling and therapy through primary care integration, reduce wait times, and support telehealth options.

• Strengthen social and economic supports to reduce related stressors. Improve housing affordability, income supports, childcare, paid sick leave, and job security to bolster people’s sense of value and belonging.

• Promote healthy workplaces and public-sector mental health cultures. Offer manager training, anti-stigma initiatives, robust employee assistance programs, flexible work options, and digital mental health resources to support self-esteem and resilience.

How companies can reduce self-esteem stress at work

• Normalize vulnerability and growth: leaders share learning from mistakes and emphasize progress over perfection.
• Set clear, realistic expectations: define achievable goals, provide SMART targets, and schedule regular, supportive check-ins.
• Use strengths-based feedback: focus on what was done well, give specific steps to improve, and keep feedback brief and frequent.
• Provide confidential mental health support: offer EAP and access to October for group sessions and assessments; ensure privacy and easy access.
• Foster psychological safety and inclusive leadership: train managers to listen, reduce blame, encourage mentorship, and ensure resources are accessible and privacy-compliant in Canada.