More employees face challenges with mental health and diabetes
August 18, 2023
For business owners, plan sponsors and administrators
Workers and their families covered by Manulife Group Benefits plans are increasingly seeking treatment for mental illness and diabetes, according to Manulife claims data.
Overall, the number of individuals making claims for mental health treatment grew 8.6 per cent in 2021 and another 4 per cent in 2022.1
The number of individuals claiming diabetes treatment grew 7.7 per cent in 2021 and increased another 8.2 per cent in 2022.1
These employee health challenges could play a role in productivity losses. An average of 48 days per employee were lost in 2022 due to health-related absences and presenteeism, according to a recent survey by Manulife, up from 41 days per employee in 2021.
The survey of nearly 5,000 employees shows that the cost to their organizations was almost $645 million in lost productivity across these 47 organizations.2
Mental health challenges
46 per cent of employees are experiencing at least one work-related mental health risk factor.2
Top work-related mental health risk factors2 |
|
Balance |
Being able to balance demands of work, family, personal life |
Involvement and Influence |
Being able to provide input and be engaged in decision making |
Workload management |
Being able to manage workload and feel in control of responsibilities |
But who is seeking treatment? Our data also shows that more young members (ages up to 34) are claiming mental health treatments—a trend for the last two years.1
Increase in unique claimants for mental health treatment1 |
||
Age |
2021 |
2022 |
17 and younger |
17% |
12% |
18 to 24 |
12% |
7% |
25 to 34 |
15% |
10% |
35 to 44 |
10% |
7% |
45 to 54 |
6% |
5% |
55 to 64 |
2% |
-2% |
65 or older |
5% |
-9% |
We also saw an 11 per cent increase in the dollar amount reimbursed per claimant overall last year.1 Therapy use is driving the increase with 28 per cent more spent on psychologists and nearly 34 percent more spent on social workers compared to the prior year.1
“Increasing claims related to mental health concerns can indicate overall worsening mental health and increased prevalence of mental health diagnoses but can also suggest improved awareness of and access to needed services, which can overall improve the mental health and well-being of employees in the longer term,” says Dr. Steve Pomedli, of Cleveland Clinic Canada, Manulife’s Medical Director.
Do you need support with your workplace mental health program? Reach out to your Manulife representative to see how we can help.
Diabetes—a growing chronic condition
The Public Health Agency of Canada estimates that almost 12 million Canadians, or 30 per cent of us, live with diabetes or prediabetes, with about 90 per cent being type 2 diabetes .3, 4 Over 1.7 million of those people have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, according to the estimate.3, 4
“Type 2 diabetes continues to be one of the most common chronic conditions faced by Canadians and can have a major impact on an individual’s health and well-being. Prevention, treatment, and condition management all have important roles in reducing the impact of diabetes” says Dr. Pomedli.
Canadian public health data shows that the prevalence of diabetes continues to increase, and this is mirrored by our data. Overall, the number of individuals claiming diabetes treatment grew 7.7 per cent in 2021 and increased another 8.2 per cent in 2022.1
Most claimants are over 35, but we see large increases in the number of young people (ages up to 34) seeking diabetes treatment.
Increase in unique claimants for diabetes treatment1 |
||
Age |
2021 |
2022 |
17 and younger |
0% |
13% |
18 to 24 |
5% |
10% |
25 to 34 |
13% |
19% |
35 to 44 |
14% |
21% |
45 to 54 |
10% |
16% |
55 to 64 |
5% |
6% |
65 or older |
6% |
-4% |
“This trend towards increases in diabetes diagnoses among younger age groups reflects broader country-wide trends showing increasing rates of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in youth and younger age groups. Developing diabetes at a younger age can mean that complications and health impacts from the condition can develop earlier on. Fortunately, there are opportunities to increase prevention efforts to reduce the risk of developing diabetes, specifically type 2 diabetes,” Dr. Pomedli says.
Despite the opportunities for reducing the risk and impact of diabetes, particularly through physical activity and healthy nutrition, there are significant barriers to making lasting changes. For example, 40 per cent of workers are not able to do the recommended amount of physical activity (150 minutes/week) to optimize their health. Workplaces can consider their role in supporting healthy behaviours and ways they can help mitigate the impact of diabetes (and other chronic conditions) through workplace initiatives, targeted support, or specific incentives for workers to meet physical activity or nutrition goals.
Top barriers affecting employees’ ability to adopt healthy choices2 |
A general lack of time |
Lack of motivation to change existing behaviours |
Work commitments (e.g., long, or irregular working hours) |
Do you need support for your employee wellness program? Reach out to your Manulife representative to learn how we can help.
References:
1 Manulife Group Benefits aggregate claims data, 2023.
2 Manulife’s 2022 Wellness Report: 47 Manulife Group Benefits corporate customers participated, and 4,921 employees responded to the online surveys.
3 Framework for diabetes in Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada; https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/framework-diabetes-canada.html, 2022
4 Diabetes in Canada - Diabetes Canada, 2022
