Nova Scotia says the first phase of its long-promised universal mental health-care program will begin this spring, with therapy costs covered by the province for people with anxiety and mood disorders. Brian Comer, minister of mental health and addictions, made the announcement Wednesday, saying that soon Nova Scotians will be able to self-refer to a […]
Canada’s workforce increasingly reflects the unique health challenges faced by its female population. Between 2018 and 2023, women represented a little more than half of the total claimants and spend in Express Scripts Canada’s drug claims data, according to Farah Belayadi, the organization’s senior manager of clinical services and health technology database, during Benefits Canada’s […]
The percentage of claimants filing claims for obesity drugs increased by 43 per cent in 2023, according to a new report by GreenShield. The report, which analyzed the insurer’s 2023 claims data, found diabetes medications saw a 13 per cent increase in cost, accounting for nine per cent of total drug costs in 2023. There […]
Physically active workers in Canada lose 10 fewer workdays of productivity annually than their sedentary counterparts, according to Telus Health’s latest mental-health index. The survey, which polled 3,000 employees, found workers dissatisfied with their physical health scored 22 points lower in mental health and lost 21 more days of productivity annually than satisfied counterparts. The […]
Nearly two-fifths (38 per cent) of Canadians say they’ve felt stressed to the point where it had an impact on their daily life at least once, according to a new survey by Ipsos that was released ahead of World Mental Health Day. The global survey, which polled more than 24,000 people in 31 countries, found […]
More than a third (36 per cent) of Canadian workers have been bothered by thoughts of death or self-harm over the past year, according to a new survey by Wysa Ltd. The survey, which polled more than 2,000 employees, found young people were especially at risk, with 56 per cent of Canadians aged 18 to 24 […]
It’s important for plan sponsors to educate employees about the benefits of a good night’s sleep, said Ken Porter, national sustainability director for the Mood Disorders Society of Canada, during Benefits Canada’s 2024 Mental Health Summit in June. “Getting enough quality sleep is essential to our physical, mental and emotional wellness. It serves in a […]
People going through the loss of a loved one often worry they’re not grieving in the right way if their experience differs from their and others’ expectations of what grief looks like, said Deborah McLeod, clinical director at Carepath Inc., during Benefits Canada’s 2024 Mental Health Summit in June. Grief is a highly individualized process […]
A decline in the number of long-term disability claims over the past three years may be the result of some employees prioritizing their financial health over physical and mental wellness, said William Lindsay, senior disability management advisor for Desjardins Insurance’s disability management and prevention team, during Benefits Canada’s 2024 Mental Health Summit in June. The […]
More than half (55 per cent) of Canadian employees say their employer-sponsored health benefits don’t fully meet their needs and two-fifths (42 per cent) say a lack of timely access to their health-care provider may be negatively impacting their health, according to Telus Health’s latest mental-health index. The survey, which polled 3,000 employees, found the […]