Employers have woken to the importance of having a holistic health strategy, with a focus on employee mental health. In our latest Global Talent Trend 2021 report, 64% of Canadian employers plan to add benefits to address mental or emotional health issues, and 50% are training managers to spot mental health issues.

Moving beyond Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

The pandemic has highlighted the need for better access to mental healthcare, as more people suffer from stress, loneliness and depression. At the same time, complex mental health issues like addiction and posttraumatic stress disorder are on the rise.

 

Employers that had previously taken a passive approach to supporting employee health and wellbeing are now trying to proactively create workplace benefit programs that support mental health.

 

While an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) has traditionally been the cornerstone of an employer’s mental health strategy, new solutions are allowing organizations to focus on prevention, resilience and internal policies.

 

For instance, digital platforms for scientifically validated therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can make it easier to offer solutions to all employees, improving access to care options outside of traditional face-to-face counselling.

 

A strong mental health strategy allows an employer to set a framework, identify gaps, address employee preferences and cover needs across the entire spectrum of mental health conditions.

 

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