The majority of Canadian workers are letting valuable mental health benefits go unused even as they report significant declines in their well-being, according to a new report released Wednesday.
The 2025 State of workplace well-being report, conducted by Dialogue Health Technologies and Leger, reveals that while 80 per cent of employers offer employee assistance programs (EAPs), nearly two-thirds of workers (65 per cent) have never used these benefits for mental health support.
“We’ve seen over the years how Canadian workers are increasingly burdened with the demands of both personal and professional expectations,” said Dr. Stephanie Moynihan, associate medical director at Dialogue. “Taking care of your health isn’t just about staying physically healthy but about nurturing your mind, too.”
Health challenges mount
The study found that 30 per cent of Canadian employees experienced declining mental health over the past year. Key contributors to these struggles include:
- Worsening financial health (29 per cent)
- Continued sleep issues (26 per cent)
- Lack of physical exercise (23 per cent)
These factors are fueling anxiety and burnout in workplaces across the country, researchers found.
Communication gap
Despite widespread availability of wellness benefits, only 16 per cent of employees reported understanding these resources very well. The research points to a significant communication gap between what employers offer and employees’ awareness of these supports.
“Employees often don’t know that their employee assistance program offers more than just mental health support and miss out on valuable resources like financial counselling, legal aid, and wellness coaching that are also included,” said Kelsey Lander, associate vice-president of consumer insights at Leger.
Additional barriers to accessing these programs include lack of appointment options, insufficient information about how to access resources, and long wait times.
Benefits proven effective
For those who do use available workplace benefits, the impact is significant. The report found that 81 per cent of employees who accessed mental health support through workplace benefits experienced relief from their challenges.
High satisfaction ratings were reported across several support categories:
- Family and relationship issues (89 per cent)
- Managing workload and deadlines (86 per cent)
- Women’s health (84 per cent)
- Mental health and substance use (81 per cent)
Meanwhile, over 70 per cent of HR professionals reported that these benefits contribute to increased employee engagement, reduced absenteeism, and improved retention rates.
The findings suggest employers need to better communicate the breadth of services available and eliminate barriers to access if they want to see improvements in workforce well-being, researchers concluded.
