Awareness campaign
PRESS RELEASE | Let’s open the discussion! A new initiative has been launched to support caregivers in mental health in the workplace
A practical toolkit is now available to Quebec employers
to help them better support employees experiencing isolation and mental overload
Montreal, October 5, 2025 – In Quebec, caregivers in mental health—anyone supporting someone living with a mental health disorder—often face stigma and experience challenges that affect their professional lives. These individuals, who must both perform on the job and take on caregiving responsibilities at home, frequently find themselves overwhelmed, which can reduce workplace productivity. As part of its awareness campaign for caregivers in mental health, CAP santé mentale has launched a new initiative to support employees and employers.
Caregivers in the workplace: An invisible role, a very real impact!
In Quebec, about four in five people know someone living with a mental health disorder, whether it’s a parent, sibling, partner, family member or friend. Caregivers in the workplace play an invisible role and take many forms:
- A spouse, team manager in a small business, juggling a hectic schedule while also supporting a partner living with bipolar disorder.
- A mother, factory worker, trying to manage everything since her 16-year-old son’s first psychotic episode.
- A father, construction worker, worrying about his daughter’s anxiety and panic attacks.
Absenteeism, presenteeism, mental overload, decreased performance, burnout… According to a survey by CAP santé mentale, 82% of caregivers in the workplace find it challenging to balance their professional responsibilities with their caregiving role. More than half (54%) of respondents reported that their role as a caregiver has an impact on their career path.
ImpactReel.ca/en: A mental health toolkit to equip employers
Available on the ImpactReel.ca/en website, the toolkit is designed to help employers boost productivity, reduce absenteeism and presenteeism, enhance HR policies and improve employee retention. Here are some of the measures it proposes:
- Start the conversation: create safe spaces where caregivers can feel heard and understood.
- Provide more flexibility in terms of hours, remote work options, temporary accommodations, tailored work-life balance initiatives, among others.
- Know your resources: be informed about where to turn for support.
“My partner lives with bipolar disorder. Balancing work and family life has been a huge challenge, especially as a manager. I even went through burnout. Fortunately, my employer was understanding. Accommodations were made, and my colleagues showed great empathy. Without my employer’s support and understanding, I wouldn’t have made it through this difficult time—either at home or at work.”
Martin Gauthier, manager and partner
Quotes:
“As an employer, I realize we still have a long way to go. Individuals who are close to someone living with a mental health disorder are at risk of developing mental health problems of their own if they don’t receive the support they need. Caregivers should no longer remain invisible at work. They must have access to tailored work-life balance measures from their employers—support that lightens their load and truly makes a difference. To achieve this, we need to talk openly about mental health—without stigma,” said Jean-Philippe Dion, spokesperson for CAP santé mentale.
“Supporting caregivers in mental health is a win-win investment for employers and employees. The new toolkit, specifically designed for caregivers in mental health, will help employers increase productivity, reduce absenteeism and address presenteeism. ImpactReel.ca brings together all the essential tools to complement the services provided by the member associations of CAP Santé mentale across Quebec,” said René Cloutier, Executive Director of CAP santé mentale.
To explore the support kits for employers: www.impactreel.ca/en
To watch Martin Gauthier’s testimonial
About CAP santé mentale
Active since 1985, CAP santé mentale brings together 53 associations across all regions of Quebec. Its mission is to provide psychosocial support to individuals who are close to someone living with a mental health disorder. Member associations offer free services including information, peer support, professional counselling, guidance, training and respite. With its unique expertise, CAP santé mentale remains the only organization in Quebec dedicated exclusively to the family and social circle of a person living with a mental health disorder. Each year, its member associations support over 30,000 caregivers.
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For more information
Manon Dion
CAP santé mentale
418-687-0474
[email protected]
CAP santé mentale_Communiqué_5 octobre 2025_EN
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Because you matter too!
According to a Statistics Canada report released in February, the mental health of youths aged 15 to 30, particularly young women, has been in steady decline for just over a decade.
In Quebec, more than 25% of the population, particularly young adults and adolescents, have increased mental health problems due to the pandemic. Among those 25 years of age and younger, symptoms of anxiety and depression have increased by nearly 50% over pre-Covid-19 levels.
At the same time, many young people are affected by the presence of mental health issues in their communities, but these often fly under the radar. Some are doubly impacted because of the effects of the pandemic on their own mental health as well as their relationship with someone living with a mental health problem. Yet they remain on the front line providing support for their parents, siblings, partner, or friends living with a mental illness. They experience anxiety, helplessness, guilt and shame. They are slow to seek help because of the stigma associated with mental illness and a lack of awareness of available resources that can help them. This affects their self-esteem, social life, academic success and future plans. They are at greater risk of experiencing failure and developing a mental illness themselves (Mental Health Action Plan 2015-2020, Government of Quebec, 2015).
It is therefore vital to continue pursuing our work to reach 18- to 25-year-olds living with a person with a mental health problem while also integrating a component for 13- to 17-year-olds.
The theme of our 2021 awareness campaign is “You are important too, so stay the course!” It aims to show young people that when you assist a person living with a mental health problem :
- It is normal to experience all kinds of emotions that can make us feel mentally and physically exhausted. This is why it’s important to take care of yourself.
- Taking care of yourself is not a selfish act. Your health is also important and should never be neglected!
- You are an important person for your loved one!
- Your skills should not be underestimated. Your knowledge and experience are unique. Assisting a loved one refers to the support that can be offered to them, not taking charge of their life.
- It is a role that shows respect for your loved one and does not take away from the feelings you have for them or your respect for their autonomy.
It is possible to maintain your balance while assisting a person living with a mental illness. There are organizations in Quebec that offer a wide range of specialized services to support you!
Ultimately, we want them to :
- Stay the course to preserve their mental health!
- Stay the course to preserve their balance while accompanying someone in their recovery!
- Stay the course , because they are important too!
- Stay the course and make their dreams a reality!
- Stay the course to help change the way people look at mental health issues and break the taboos surrounding them.
Thank you for partnering with us!
Press Releases
Communiqué de presse du 3 octobre 2021 Communiqué de presse du 4 octobre 2020 Communiqué de presse du 6 octobre 2019 Communiqué de presse du 3 octobre 2019 Communiqué de presse du 2 octobre 2019 Communiqué de presse du 28 septembre 2018 Communiqué de presse du 19 août 2018 Résultat de notre plus récent sondage maison
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– For all interview requests, please contact : Manon Dion 418 687-0474 / 1 800 323-0474
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