EY Canada is increasing its mental-health benefits for all employees and their dependents from $900 to $5,000 a year.
“EY wouldn’t exist, let alone thrive, without our people,” says Stephen Shea, EY Canada managing partner, talent. “We believe it’s our responsibility to support them and help them live their best professional and personal lives. That means offering meaningful mental-health benefits that allow them to take care of themselves and their families.”
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The new plan also includes an expanded roster of mental-health professionals that goes beyond the traditional list of psychologists and registered social workers. EY employees can now claim costs associated with psychoanalysts, psychotherapists, clinical counsellors and marriage and family therapists.
“The way we live is always changing, shifting our priorities and putting pressure on different parts of our lives,” says Shea. “That’s why we keep re-examining what’s most relevant to our people’s overall well-being and adapt to provide meaningful benefits.”
According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, by the time they reach age 40, one in every two Canadians has, or has had, a mental illness. And the stigma often attached to mental illnesses is a serious barrier to diagnosis and treatment.
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