...Mental illness is one of the leading causes of absenteeism in the workplace, and makes up 30% of the long-term disability cases...
The Report
Navigating Workplace Disability Insurance: Helping People with Mental Illness Find the Way (399KB PDF) is a 2004 report that details the workplace disability insurance system in British Columbia from the perspective of those who have experienced the system. The goal of the report is to make a complex system easier to understand for employees with mental illness and their employers.
The first section of the report chronicles the personal stories of nine individuals who have used the system - from the time a person goes on sick leave until the time they return to work if they are supported. A number of stories give voice to the all-too-common struggles faced by thousands across the province.
A second section of the report contains detailed analysis by Dr. Judith Adelman, a BC-based health policy analyst and researcher. The report is a followup to the Mayer Inquest into the death of Mr. Donald Mayer of Langley, BC, who died after an altercation with police in Langley Memorial Hospital, during a mental health emergency. The situation was in part precipitated by Mr. Mayer's difficulties with claims he made for both Workers' Compensation (WCB) and Long Term Disability (LTD), for coverage related to his mental illness.
The Documentary
In February 2005, as an adjunct to the report, CMHA released a 12-minute documentary highlighting three of the nine personal stories of difficulties in accessing mental illness disability benefits. The documentary was shown in a special workshop for insurance industry representatives at the 3rd annual CMHA Bottom Line Conference.
- Higher-resolution video (large file) (29.2MB WMV)
- Lower-resolution video (small file) (3.9MB WMV)