Sonya Felix

Meeting the growing need for mental health with virtual care

Long before the coronavirus pandemic disrupted everyone’s lives, a large portion of the working population had mental-health issues that affected their jobs and performance. But the pandemic has drastically amplified mental-health issues such as anxiety, insomnia and depression, in turn spiking the demand for reliable resources, said Karen Grant, vice-president of strategy and operations at Teladoc Health, […]

  • November 27, 2020 November 27, 2020
  • 09:00

Understanding the journey of a patient with depression

Defining depression may seem simple, but it’s actually a complex mental-health disorder that can look different for every person it affects. That’s why a personalized treatment plan is crucial to alleviate symptoms and promote recovery, said Dr. Diane McIntosh, psychiatrist and chief neuroscience officer at Telus Health, during a session at Benefit Canada’s 2020 Mental Health […]

  • November 27, 2020 November 27, 2020
  • 07:56

Is private and public health care ready for a mental-health tsunami?

While group benefits plans can help employees access essential mental-health support, barriers still exist that keep people from receiving the care they need. And with the coronavirus pandemic exacerbating mental-health problems, providing adequate and affordable care is more critical than ever. “There is a critical need for ongoing collaboration between all segments of the corporate and professional […]

  • November 27, 2020 November 27, 2020
  • 07:53

Canada’s mental-health care system ripe for a digital makeover

With the coronavirus pandemic expected to double the demand for mental-health service, digital technology is opening the door to a new normal, with shorter wait times for services, more personalized treatment options and improved integration between public and private providers. Over the past year, there’s been a rapid acceleration of the need for digital programming to fill gaps […]

  • November 27, 2020 March 3, 2021
  • 07:52

Co-ordinated treatment plan required to get staff with depression back to work

With depression rapidly becoming the primary reason for workplace impairment and disability claims, it’s important to understand the role work plays in maintaining good health. “Love and work are the cornerstones of our humanness,” said Dr. Pratap Chokka, clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Alberta and consultant psychiatrist at Grey Nuns Hospital, during […]

  • November 27, 2020 November 27, 2020
  • 07:51

Tips for optimizing an employee health fair

Employers promote competition, interactive booths and benefits information to engage employees in their wellness offerings. “Someone lasted seven minutes,” says Stephanie Enright, the Mississauga, Ont. company’s director of talent management and administration. “Our employees really like the competitiveness, and these activities help draw people to the health fair.” Over the last decade, the organization’s health […]

  • February 14, 2020 March 18, 2021
  • 08:53

Adoption of B.C. formulary saves private drug plan $13 million: study

As plan sponsors continue to look for ways to control drug plan spending, a new study from the University of British Columbia shows that switching from an open to a closed formulary can save big dollars. The study, published this month in the Canadian Medical Association Journal Open, analyzed what happened when the B.C. Hospital […]

  • August 13, 2019 November 11, 2020
  • 09:15

Evaluating the value of employee assistance programs

The contents of employee assistance programs are growing and reflecting a wider range of services. At the same time, attitudes to pricing are also changing. Trader Corp., a Toronto-based digital marketing company serving the automotive industry, expects more from its EAP provider and is willing to pay for it. “Our workforce is increasingly diverse with […]

  • May 10, 2019 March 6, 2021
  • 08:55

A look at extended parental benefits one year on

With a baby due in March, Ashley Bangsund and her partner Nick Goodall didn’t think twice about whether to take the traditional 12 months of employment insurance parental benefits or opt for the new 18-month extended version introduced by the federal government in December 2017. “The longer leave feels too long to go with a […]

  • February 15, 2019 September 13, 2019
  • 08:55

A primer on the parliamentary report on pharmacare and its impact on the benefits industry

Universal pharmacare is an idea that has been kicking around for decades in Canada. Yet despite numerous studies calling for a universal single-payer pharmacare program to ensure all Canadians have access to prescription drugs, the country’s drug system remains a patchwork of public and private plans. This spring, the House of Commons’ standing committee on […]

  • September 7, 2018 March 11, 2021
  • 08:56