Canadian Government Executive - Volume 27 - Issue 05

6 / Canadian Government Executive // September/October 2021 MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH MUST STAY TOP OF MIND A s employees gradually return to workplaces, employers are well-advised to prioritize men- tal health. To say Canadians are ex- hausted by the COVID-19 pandemic is an understatement. Beyond those who were directly stricken with the virus, COVID-19 compromised the mental and emotional wellbeing of many Canadians as we coped with new ways of living, working, and con- necting with others. A survey by Statistics Canada, in col- laboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada, on symptoms of mental health disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic from September to December 2020 found: • one in five Canadian adults aged 18 and older screened positive for at least one of three mental disorders: major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), • the prevalence of positive screens for ma- jor depressive disorder, generalized anxi- ety disorder, and probable PTSD were more than three times higher among young adults than among older adults, and • nearly 38 per cent of Canadians reported that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they experienced feelings of loneliness or isolation. These findings confirm that the pandemic’s toll on mental health is significant and re- quires attention. A shift in the way Canadians accessed healthcare services over the past 18 months is among the factors that appear to have contrib- uted to this troubling mental health picture. According to data published by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), dur- ing the pandemic, physicians provided 52 per cent of care virtually, chiefly online or by tele- phone. CIHI numbers further indicate that it’s likely that many people didn’t seek care when they may have needed to. Among the outcomes, data released by Ex- press Scripts Canada in March 2021 identi- fied a potential backlog of Canadians who could have been diagnosed and treated for common conditions, such as depression. This backlog is due, in part, to public health lockdowns as well as fear of contracting and spreading COVID-19. This population-wide reluctance to seek medical care, and the resulting decline in di- agnoses, is particularly concerning because in most cases, identifying and treating illness early tends to improve health outcomes by curbing disease progression and related con- sequences. Even prior to the pandemic, stigma as- sociated with mental health already posed obstacles for those in need of help. Pandem- ic-induced challenges of accessibility and isolation only compounded the risk that people suffering from mental health chal- lenges did not get the help they need. What can employers do to help? As employees return to workplaces during the pandemic’s fourth wave, and navigate potentially stressful transitions, the need for mental health supports has become even more essential. Employers can help make things smoother by creating openness to discuss wellness and mental health. Offer- ing mental health resources such as virtual supports, meditation apps, and counselling benefits, and incorporating mental health checks and breaks into the work culture all represent opportunities. Providing employ- ees with the flexibility to determine when and how often they need to be in the physical office can also help empower them to make the best decisions for their circumstances. Enhancing employee access to health care professionals is another way employers can help workers navigate this next phase of the pandemic journey and keep workplaces healthy. Specifically, working with a pharma- cy partner that offers 24/7 year-round access to a pharmacist from the privacy of the em- ployee’s home or another preferred location brings significant benefits. Such convenience is particularly helpful for employees who may not have the flexibility to visit a pharmacy dur- ing typical business hours. Encouraging medication adherence In 2020, while the use of medications to treat depression rose 12 per cent over the previ- ous year, data also showed only 57 per cent adherence among drug plan members to at least one medication used to treat depression. Such nonadherence can result in repeat ap- pointments, recurrence, and worsening of the condition. Most importantly, adherence is crucial to suc- cessful treatment. An online pharmacy is a mo- dality proven to help patients adhere to medica- tion regimes prescribed by their doctors. Enhanced convenience also helps address nonadherence due to behavioural roadblocks. For example, a pharmacy partner that offers flexible medication delivery options, 90 days’ supplies, renewal reminders, and auto-refill options, and access to online tools, can all en- courage adherence. In addition, patients that have ready access to pharmacists who provide personalized consultations, and follow up di- rectly with patients, goes a long way to helping patients achieve better health. As employers reimagine workplaces, ben- efits plans, and the importance of employee health in the post-COVID world, making mental health a priority and providing ready access to modern healthcare services could be just the preventative medicine needed to help keep employees and businesses healthy. Jeff Boutilier is General Manager Phar- macy and Chief Clinical Officer at Express Scripts Canada and is responsible for the management and direction of pharmacy across Canada. BY JEFF BOUTILIER