Accessing Mental Health Support in the Workplace

In recent years, the importance of mental health has gained more attention, and many corporations are now offering extended health benefits to their employees to help support their mental health. This type of coverage can be an important resource for employees, allowing them to access much-needed mental health services without worrying about the cost.

What About Benefits?

If you are an employee who is looking to access your extended health benefits to receive mental health support, there are a few things you should know. First, it is important to understand the type of coverage that your employer offers. Your employer should be able to provide you with a detailed summary of your benefits package, including any mental health coverage that is included.

Once you understand your coverage, you can begin to explore your options for receiving mental health support. Some employers offer an employee assistance program (EAP), which is a confidential and free service that can provide you with access to counseling and other mental health resources. EAPs typically offer short-term counseling and can connect you with additional mental health resources if necessary.

What Can You Do?

If you require more long-term support, you may need to seek out a mental health professional who is covered by your extended health benefits. Your employer should be able to provide you with a list of mental health professionals who are covered under your benefits plan. You can also check with your benefits provider directly to find a mental health professional in your area who accepts your coverage.

It is important to note that some extended health benefits plans may have limits on the amount of coverage that is available for mental health services. This means that you may need to pay for some of the cost of your mental health services out-of-pocket. However, the cost of mental health services may be reimbursable through your benefits plan, so it is important to keep all receipts and documentation related to your mental health treatment.

In addition to accessing your extended health benefits, there are other things you can do to support your mental health at work. This might include taking regular breaks throughout the day, practicing mindfulness or meditation, and seeking out support from coworkers or your supervisor if you are struggling.

What Can You Do?

Mental health is an important aspect of overall well-being and it’s encouraging to see more and more corporations recognizing this fact by offering mental health coverage for their employees. If you are an employee who is looking to access your extended health benefits for mental health support, start by speaking with your employer and your benefits provider to understand your coverage and explore your options for receiving mental health services.

It’s great to see more and more corporations recognizing the importance of mental health and offering coverage for their employees. These benefits not only help to improve the well-being of employees, but they also help to create a more positive and productive work environment.

The BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) and Coke Canada have both made recent changes to expand employee benefit plans, with Coke Canada increasing its psychology benefits coverage to $5,000 per year and expanding coverage to include registered clinical counselling services while BCACC recently increased its employee benefits plan to extend coverage for mental health support by 200%.

If you are currently seeking employment, it’s worth considering corporations that offer mental health benefits as part of their overall benefits package.

If you are not sure where to start or need more advise, Contact Us  at 250-718-9291 or email us at info@okclinical.com

Written by: Maureen Wolfe, MACP

Maureen@okclinical.com

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