Canadian employees under 40 are feeling increasingly isolated and lonely compared to their older co-workers. That’s according to the Telus Mental Health Index released today. As well, 45 per cent of workers say they don’t have relationships with people they trust at work, and younger workers are more likely to lack these trusted relationships. A news release from Telus Health says one in ten workers don’t feel valued and respected by their colleagues and 15 per cent rate their company’s culture around mental health as negative.

The World Health Organization states that the effects of isolation and loneliness are now being recognized and compared to well-known health risks such as smoking, obesity and the lack of physical activity. The U.S. surgeon general says the mortality effects are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.