At WELL, we prioritize mental health as a fundamental aspect of overall well-being. According to a recent survey, 83% of employees struggle to achieve their wellness goals, largely due to work-related challenges. This finding highlights the urgent need for organizations to take meaningful action to address these barriers and support team members’ mental health.
Discover how WELL is committed to promoting team well-being in the workplace through our comprehensive employee mental health program and other supportive strategies.
Key Elements of Our Employee Mental Health Program
We recognize that effective mental health support requires clear strategies that resonate with our team’s needs.
To guide our efforts at WELL, we look to experts in the field, such as Marion Adams, founder of the virtual therapy platform Focus Mental Wellness, who shared three essential elements of a comprehensive and caring approach to mental health support.
- Awareness and Promotion: Organizations must commit to regularly communicating & promoting mental health resources available to their team members, making it a priority.
- Clarity and Understanding: A successful mental health program must be straightforward and easy to navigate to help with engagement.
- Convenience and Accessibility: Meeting employees where they are is essential. Whatever programs are available to team members must be convenient and promote access; this is why virtual therapy is a great option.
How WELL Supports Employee Mental Health with Virtual Therapy
In 2022, WELL and Focus developed the BEWELL mental health support program. This initiative provides WELL team members with one complimentary, confidential therapy session each year with highly qualified therapists from Focus Mental Wellness, supported by WELL’s extended health benefits for longer-term care.
Recognizing the importance of access to mental health resources, Shane Sabatino, Chief People Officer at WELL Health, notes, “The first session is the gateway to help for life.” To further support their teams, Shane and Marion have introduced several months of unlimited free therapy each year, typically around the holidays, ensuring that mental health remains a priority throughout the year.
WELL’s commitment to mental well-being extends beyond its team members. With the framework developed for WELL Health, Focus has established an Employee Mental Wellness Program to help other organizations enhance their teams’ mental wellness and make support accessible and affordable for all Canadians.
Key components of WELL’s mental health initiatives
Beyond providing access to virtual therapy, the partnership between Focus and WELL’s People & Culture team emphasizes education. The WELL People & Culture team organizes regular webinars with Focus therapists, offering team members valuable tips and strategies to navigate the difficulties they may face.
WELL further enhances employee well-being through a variety of holistic initiatives:
EPIC: WELL’s Employee Program Inspiring Culture (EPIC) run by internal team members fosters a fun, healthy, and collaborative workplace at WELL through social events, team member recognition, and health and wellness activities.
Bright: WELL has invested in Bright to offer technologically enabled well-being solutions, including virtual mindfulness, nutrition, yoga, and fitness classes, accessible to all team members and healthcare practitioners.
WELL Universe: Through our partnership with Skillsoft, WELL offers a wide range of professional development and learning opportunities. Our WELL University initiative provides access to a library of thousands of on-demand courses, covering diverse subjects to cater to the learning needs of all team members.
WELL is dedicated to continuously enhancing and expanding support for our team members, reflecting our leadership’s commitment to creating a healthy and nurturing workplace.
To learn more about our dedication to fostering a positive work environment, we encourage you to read our ESG report. You can also visit Focus Mental Wellness to discover how you or your organization can benefit from virtual therapy. Together, let’s prioritize mental well-being and build a brighter future for all.
