Employee Assistance Program
Foster a caring and supportive workplace by providing your employees with access to counselling and wellness services to help them overcome personal challenges affecting their overall well-being.
A healthy workplace equals:
- increased productivity
- decreased absenteeism
- reduced accidents and disability rates
- reduced health insurance claims
- enhanced job satisfaction
- improved company image
Access EAP services on our digital wellness platform
Members with EAP coverage can access available services, as well as a range of health and wellness resources on our digital wellness platform at wellness.mb.bluecross.ca.
Program overview
Our renowned Employee Assistance Program provides direct access to professional, confidential counselling services to assist employees and their families with personal concerns affecting work performance, self-management and life.
Services
Comprehensive problem assessment and short-term counselling for a variety of concerns that encompass:
- family/parenting
- partner/couple
- personal/emotional/behavioural problems
- anxiety and depression
- work stress/adjustment
- addictions
- suicide risk
- domestic violence and abuse
- grief and loss
- trauma/critical incident
- conflict resolution/mediation
- health and wellness
Counselling is structured and goal-oriented with an emphasis on restoring function. To accommodate work schedules and concerns about confidentiality, we provide flexible scheduling and virtual services.
Supplementary counselling for common life concerns, including topics related to:
- career/pre-retirement
- legal
- financial (budgeting and financial crisis)
- caregiver support
Online resources and tailored programs to promote health and well-being, including:
- personal wellness services (e.g. smoking cessation, nutritional counselling)
- workshops and seminars
- internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy through our partner MindBeacon
- supplementary health and wellness resources through our partner Health Connected
Offers a suite of health and wellness resources and services to support your employees on our new digital wellness platform at wellness.mb.bluecross.ca. Along with access to EAP services, individuals can receive customized content, tips and resources to help build wellness-affirming habits, routines and knowledge through our quick and easy wellness assessment available on the platform.
Complete care for those who may require a medical component to their successful treatment and recovery with access to psychiatric consultation. We offer a team approach with the counsellor, in-house psychiatrist and family doctor working together to ensure optimal treatment plans are in place.
Assessment, treatment and follow-ups for alcohol, drug and other addictions via individual counselling and group treatment. We specialize in addictions complicated by depression, panic and anxiety, family dynamics, abuse and stress.
To educate and support your company, we provide consultation, assessment, facilitation and coaching to your people leaders, managers and HR consultants on a range of issues that can impact your workplace, including:
- trauma response/crisis management
- conflict resolution
- mental health strategic planning
- employee wellness
- specialized interventions related to respectful workplace
- morale/team building
- one-on-one consultation support line for leaders
- employee performance
- critical events consultation, such as pandemic disaster planning and work stoppage
- referrals for clinical services
- reintegration of employees
What sets our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) apart?
We provide a complete approach to health and wellness through a highly personalized, member-centred experience that keeps our clients coming back.
Comprehensiveness and value. We offer specialized clinical, work-life and wellness services included in our core package – as opposed to add-ons with additional costs.
Dedicated treatment facility. Our EA centre has 57 clinicians under one roof, allowing for rapid internal referrals amongst counsellors to meet a wide spectrum of clinical needs.
Group treatment philosophy. Our Addictions Management Program provides a group component for the treatment of any type of addiction, with multi-disciplinary expertise in treating co-occurring addiction and mental health disorders.
Indigenous support. Our culturally reflective counselling services include Indigenous counsellors, Elders and a dedicated Indigenous resource consultant, supporting traditional Indigenous healing approaches and traditions.
Psychiatric consultation. Our coverage includes weekly, in-house psychiatric consultation as added professional oversight to ensure optimal treatment plans are in place for employees and their family members.
Extensive organizational experience. We deliver EAP services to a diverse range of organizations, making us intimately familiar with the culture of many businesses in our city and province, and the challenges they face.
More about our Employee Assistance Program
Additional resources
- Comprehensive reporting: To provide you with insight and transparency into our program and to further support your organizational wellness objectives, we offer over 10 custom reports.
- Communication materials: We provide employee communication pieces, including posters and a quarterly newsletter, to reduce the stigma around seeking support and to remind your employees that we are there for them whenever they choose to reach out.
- Self-management materials: We offer self-help workbooks and online resources and programs to help your employees learn and apply the skills and knowledge necessary to manage their health concerns on a day-to-day basis. They can be coupled with counselling services for added support.
- Workshops and seminars: We offer workshops and seminars on a variety of topics with the goal of supporting health and wellness in the workplace. From topics such as mental health to caregiver support to financial management, our sessions offer an interactive learning experience for your employees.
- MindBeacon: We provide access to mental health support with confidential, internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy through our partner MindBeacon. Program benefits include access to:
- ~virtual mental health supports in a private, online space.
- ~high-quality, evidence-based care.
- ~comprehensive mental health wellness content.
- ~unlimited messaging with a matched therapist.
- Health Connected: We provide access to supplementary health and wellness resources and tools through our partner Health Connected. Offering more than just support for improving overall physical health, it also provides employees with resources and tools for addressing the needs of their mental and emotional health. Benefits include:
- ~Health risk and skill assessments, educating an individual on their current status and how they can improve.
- ~Personalized health coaching plans based on an individual’s unique health risks, tailored to focus on the physical and mental health areas that matter most to them.
- ~Personal or team challenges, keeping an individual’s health and wellness journey fun and engaging.
- ~Rewards for committing to healthier habits, with a chance to earn points, badges and medals.
Our program values
Our goal is to provide comprehensive, professional, diverse and accessible mental health supports.
- Comprehensiveness: We offer an extensive scope of services and delivery methods. We have a diverse and vast provider network, a robust counsellor matching process and a holistic treatment philosophy.
- Professionalism: Our program is serviced by an extensive network of professionals who bring a high level of expertise and credentials. We offer clinically managed intake and an extensive range of clinical services.
- Diversity: We provide multicultural and culturally diverse counselling options and can offer translation services in over 200 languages, including Indigenous languages. Our offerings are strengthened by our community connections, providing an Indigenous awareness program and 2SLGBTQI+ supports.
- Accessibility: We have providers located throughout rural and northern Manitoba. We offer access to support 24/7, 365 days a year. Appointments can be requested online and we offer a variety of alternate channels for counselling, including video, text-based and telephone options.
Why choose Manitoba Blue Cross?
Join Manitoba’s #1 health plan provider.
We are
- Manitoban's #1 choice for coverage — We cover half of all Manitobans. That's more than any other carrier.
- Not-for-profit — We serve stakeholders, not stockholders. That means every dollar made is reinvested back into our infrastructure, our people, and our province.
- Most recognized and trusted name in health coverage — We are part of a trusted network whose products are backed by a brand name recognized around the world.
Benefits for employers
- Made-in-Manitoba — Because we're Manitoban, we are keenly attuned to what's happening in the province and have insider knowledge about the people we serve.
- Aligned with Manitoba Pharmacare — We follow Manitoba's formulary which keeps drug costs low and promotes stable renewals.
- Cost-effective — We provide statistical reports to help analyze your plan, helping you make informed decisions.
- Easy-to-use — We provide businesses with access to an easy-to-use group administration site. Enroll, update, or terminate employees at any time. Request supplies. Print or download billing statements.
Benefits for employees
- Accessible — We have an award-winning call centre and walk-in customer service centre, located right here in Manitoba. Plus, our members have 24/7 access to claim and benefit information via mybluecross.
- Convenient — Our BlueNet card allows point-of-sale processing right at the pharmacy. Plus, we've made arrangements with many service providers to reimburse directly - from physiotherapists, dentists, and chiropractors to ambulance companies, vision providers, hospitals, and more. Assignment of Payment means members don't have to pay out-of-pocket and wait for reimbursement.
- Unique — We offer unique benefits - from foot care nurse and athletic therapy coverage to hostel care and treat no transport ambulance service. We're also one of the only carriers in the province to provide reimbursement for cardiac rehabilitation.
- Blue Advantage® — All members of Blue Cross get exclusive discounts on products and services offered by participating providers.