Why P&C professionals won’t talk about mental health

One trend that’s emerged from two years of data from Canadian Underwriter’s Mental Health Survey is that P&C insurance professionals continue to express reluctance to confide in their managers about mental health concerns.

The primary reasons? Fear of stigma or even retribution.

Forty-eight percent of industry employees responding to 2025’s survey say they’d be either uncomfortable or very uncomfortable discussing their mental health with leaders in their organizations. That’s statistically unchanged from 47% last year.

And only 33% of 2025 respondents are comfortable or very comfortable discussing the issue with leaders — again statistically in line with 34% last year. And 19% are neutral on the issue.

Those working in claims (65%) are least comfortable talking about mental health, followed by those in sales (47%) and underwriting (44%).

Conducted in August, Canadian Underwriter’s annual mental health survey drew 532 responses from property and casualty insurance professionals representing a wide spectrum of the industry — including insurers, brokers, claims adjusters and risk management professionals.

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In the survey’s verbatim answers, P&C industry professionals question whether such openness would benefit them. They also hint at not wanting to remain at their current jobs, given their current stress levels.

“At present, leadership at my company will not listen [to] nor acknowledge [that] the organizational change they’ve driven has resulted in staff having workloads [once] handled by three or four people [now] being handled by one,” says a claims adjuster who’s newer to the business.

“The cancellation of the training department several years ago has consequences now coming to fruition. Staff are managed through intimidation, are micromanaged, and speaking up has resulted in termination[s]. I will not be part of this organization much longer.”

Several industry employees describe discussing mental health with managers or executives as a barrier to promotion. More junior managers say they fear openness, even with peers, can undermine their authority or make them appear weak.

“Discussing mental health with leaders in our organization is tricky,” says one respondent who’s newer to the industry. “They claim to understand, however their behaviours post-conversation strongly suggest otherwise.”

Related: How better mental health can improve P&C workplace performance

Industry employees tell the survey they’re somewhat more likely to discuss mental health issues with peers – 41% say they’re comfortable or very comfortable, down from 44% last year. And more than a third (35%) say they’re uncomfortable or very uncomfortable, essentially unchanged from 34% last year. 

Asked what fuels discomfort about discussing mental health with peers or management, 33% of respondents say they fear stigma and being judged or viewed as unable to do their jobs.

In recognition of World Mental Health Day on Friday, Oct. 10, Canadian Underwriter reminds those experiencing acute symptoms to call 988.

This article is excerpted from one that appeared in the October-November, 2025 print edition of Canadian Underwriter.

Phil Porado

Phil, an award-winning journalist with over 30 years of experience in financial topics, has been managing editor of Canadian Underwriter for more than three years.