Mental Health Week runs from May 4 to 10 this year, and couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time. Canadians have been under lockdown orders for nearly two months now in an effort to protect our physical health, but all this isolation can and does take its toll on one’s mental health. We know, for example, that when someone has few or weak social connections, they are at a greater risk of suffering from depression or anxiety. We also know that a lack of strong social connections can be just as damaging to one’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day![i] It’s more important than ever to ensure we are doing everything we can to look after ourselves, not just physically but mentally as well.

About Mental Health Week

Mental Health Week, hosted by the CMHA, has been observed in Canada for 69 years and is always held during the first full week of May. Each year there is a theme, and the theme for 2020 is social connection. The campaign that goes along with it is #GetReal about how we really feel.

How can employers support the mental health of their team during COVID-19?

2020 presents unique challenges for employers who wish to support the mental health of their employees. Many employees are working remotely. Those who are not (such as essential workers) may be experiencing increased anxiety that they might be exposed to the coronavirus or spread it to a vulnerable loved one.

In addition to providing a supportive environment and open communication about possible mental health issues, employers can help their staff by ensuring they have access to the support they need through their benefits packages.

How QuikCare Thrive can help

QuikCare Thrive is an innovative app-based mental health program that has been designed through a partnership between TeksMed Services Inc. and Thrive Therapeutic Software Ltd. It has been developed by mental healthcare professionals and helps its users manage common mental health issues by developing reliable coping techniques. Best of all, the program is being offered for free during the COVID-19 crisis.

“Mental health has become an increasingly prevalent topic over the years, and rightly so,” says President of TeksMed, Tony Culhane. “More and more employers are seeing the value in providing mental health care along with traditional benefits. As we currently face the challenges caused by COVID-19, the necessity for readily available mental health support is clear. And so, we are very pleased to be able to provide an innovative tool for employees to access beneficial mental wellbeing resources, available anytime and anywhere.”

The app offers a number of features that employees can use to monitor and support their mental health including mood tracking, guided relaxation techniques, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) based modules. It helps users to strengthen their emotional resilience and adapt to the daily changes that are occurring during this pandemic.

But what the app also does is removes barriers to mental health care and resources by being available to the user 24/7, helping them take control over their own mental health. Furthermore, it helps to remove the stigma that often surrounds mental health and eliminates the need to wait for an appointment with a healthcare professional.

“TeksMed is committed to providing clients with top of the line care,” says Culhane. “We offer QuikCare Thrive to our own employees and have seen firsthand the benefits of providing easily accessible mental health support. We are excited to share the program with others for free and to make a positive impact on as many lives as possible. Now more than ever, it is important for us to come together and support one another.”

[i] https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/the-health-benefits-of-strong-relationships