Let me begin by sharing a story from my life. Back in 2021, I went through a major grief period. Something that impacted me mentally, and to put it in exact terms, led to some mental breakdown episodes, leading me to psychiatrist visits. Sounds empathetic and honest? Not so much to my employer! Apparently, he judged my performance for that 1 month and decided that the best course for me is to sit at home and leave the job since, according to him, I was “distracted”.
I got another job, though, and a much better Manager. Fair deal! Fast forward to a few years. I am diagnosed with Social Anxiety. Too much attention, and I get a nervous breakdown. In the same period, a colleague decided to still highlight me for something I explicitly asked not to announce publicly. I grabbed everyone’s attention; he meant all in good faith, but I couldn’t stop what came to me physically and mentally.
Both these scenarios are from my work experience in the Indian office. Zero respect for terms like “mental health”, “anxiety”, “depression”, etc, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I am not making this space my ranting journal. But taking the liberty to introduce you to the Indian Work Culture that functions on: if we see it, we beleive it. Everything else just does not exist.
Fast forward to 2025, and I volunteered at some of the major film festivals in Toronto this year. I got some new work titles, and my utter shock came from the rewiring I had to go through in terms of Work Culture. My transition to the Canadian Work Culture was an eye-opener, especially when it came to the one thing that was hushed in India- Mental Health.
From Stigma To Support!
Couldn’t find a more apt title for this!
The Canadian Work Culture treats mental health and anxiety as an integral part of overall health. Contrary to Indian Work Culture, where Mental health is seen as “overthinking” and something that can be dealt with by distraction and working more, there is no time to think about things that bother you.
I recently learned about Employee Assistance Programs (EPAs) in Canada, where many Canadian companies offer free, confidential counselling services. The first time I learned about this benefit, I was frankly shocked. It wasn’t a resource hidden in a dusty HR manual; it was promoted as a core benefit, accessible to everyone. This normalisation felt different, but empowering. Something like-
“It’s okay to not be okay, and we have support for you.”
Terms like “burnout” (there is a “mental health day off” in some companies), “work-life balance”, and “psychological safety” are part of the daily workplace language. When a manager or HR asks, “How are you doing, really?” it feels like a genuine check-in, not just a formality. Even as a Volunteer, my Team Lead checked on me when I took multiple breaks in between my shift timings! He didn’t give me a hard time for asking or make me feel guilty, but was genuinely checking to help me out.
The Real Impact Of A Healthy Work Culture As An Immigrant!
For an immigrant, the kindness of this culture is vital.
We often carry the burden of family expectations, the stress of fitting in, missing family, the pressure to succeed, and adapting to the lifestyle of a new place.
Having a culture around that not only understands you but also respects your need for a life outside of work allows you to build a new support system confidently. Having the free mental space and no worry of getting humiliated at the workplace means weekends where you can step out and forge community connections- an essential for any new immigrant.
My journey here isn’t about criticising the place I came from, but celebrating the shift I’ve experienced. Canada’s work culture has permitted me to be productive and human, successful and well. The greatest professional growth I’ve found here is the lesson that self-care isn’t selfish; it’s foundational.