The structure, culture, and governing processes of corporate organizations can cause, aggravate, or prevent mental illnesses. Human capital, the skills and output of people, is the most important form of capital in the world today. As work stress increases, so do mental illness disability claims. Downsizing creates an atmosphere of tension in many organizations as workers fear losing their jobs, feel guilty about keeping their jobs, or are stressed out about work overload. It is also harder to get away from work, to quit for a day, even during vacations, thanks to laptop computers, cellular phones, pagers, and voice mail.
Stress leads to depression, loss of self-esteem, decreased productivity, and increased absenteeism.
These trends trigger changes, challenges, and opportunities on the diverse roles of the Canadian psychiatrist. More than ever, there is a need for cohesive, national mental health strategies to harmonize our mental health policies. Our leadership on issues of clinical practice and service delivery, education and research, and advocacy is therefore more important than ever. Leadership always coexists with creative thinking. The current period of profound change in the mental health system requires innovative solutions.