Mental health issues affect all Canadian workplaces, and the cost of doing nothing – both in personal and economic terms – is substantial.

• 7 million Canadians will experience a mental health problem in the next 12 months
• 500,000 people are absent from work each day for mental health reasons
• 1 in 3 workplace disability claims are related to mental illness
• $51 billion is the annual economic cost of mental illness in Canada

Partners for Mental Health, a national charitable organization dedicated to transforming the way Canadians think about and support mental health, is inviting companies and individuals across Canada to proactively address this important issue, and be recognized for their leadership.

On May 9, 2013, the charity will launch its Not Myself Today campaign in workplaces across the country.  The campaign aims to help support the creation of mentally healthy workplaces by providing tools and resources to engage employers and employees around the issues of workplace mental health.

Not Myself Today focuses on the idea that every one of us has had a day when we don’t feel like ourselves. The campaign asks Canadians to imagine the experiences of people who live with those feelings not just one day, but many days, along with the shame, discrimination and lack of treatment and support that goes with it. This is especially critical at work, where so many hours are spent each day.

The campaign will culminate in the national Not Myself Day @ Work on June 6, when workplaces across Canada will rally together to hold special events calling attention to mental health and encourage employees to get involved.

To join the movement to improve workplace mental health, visit www.notmyselftoday.ca.