how many people with mental health are employed
1 Individuals with a mental illness are much less likely to be employed. 2  25 Unemployment rates are as high as 70% to 90% for people with the most severe mental illnesses. 3  26. 4  In any given week, at least 500,000 employed Canadians are unable to work due to mental health problems. People with a mental illness are twice as likely to have a substance use problem compared to the general population. 2  At least 20% of people with a mental illness have a co-occurring substance use problem. 3  4 For people with schizophrenia, the number may be as high as 50%. 4  5.