Addictions

21% of Canadians will experience addiction in their lifetime.1

Addictions can be behavioural (like gambling) or related to substance use (like alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, drugs or medications [opioids, stimulants, sedatives, etc.]). An addiction is a health condition that affects the brain. It can be treated.

Addiction is often a taboo topic at work. And yet ...

  • In terms of gambling, approximately 1 million of Canadians are considered at-risk gamblers.2
  • In Canada, lost productivity due to substance use costs $22 billion each year.3
  • One in three adults uses cannabis, and nearly 75% of users have experienced a loss of control and are at risk of becoming addicted.4
  • It’s estimated that 18% of Canadians will meet the criteria for alcohol addiction in their lifetime.1
  • 5% of Canadians ages 15 and older have experienced harm due to their drug use.4
  • People with a substance use disorder are three times more likely to develop a mental health condition.5

How does the Mental Health Focus offer stand out?

It provides a full range of solutions that cover the comprehensive needs of people experiencing addiction. The offer includes:

  1. Targeted prevention tools on the Health is Cool 360° platform: articles, resources and self-assessment questionnaires.
  2. Care through telemedicine and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and quick referrals to specialists.
  3. Better treatment coverage: Wider eligibility for required treatments for behavioural addictions and substance use disorders, including outpatient or institutionalized treatments at recognized addiction treatment centres across Canada.
  4. Opioid control program to support plan members who need to take these medications and to help them reduce their risk of becoming addicted to it.
  5. Personalized support through Health PACT, a telephone coaching service that helps plan members navigate the healthcare system and find addiction specialists (like doctors, psychologists, social workers and treatment centres).
  6. Optimized disability and rehabilitation management, thanks to proper tools and training provided to the people involved.
  7. Support for managing employees through our Manager Assistance Program.

Benefits of Mental Health Focus

+ A national agreement with EHN Canada, the largest network of addiction rehab and treatment centres across the country.

+ A holistic approach to mental health that provides access to multiple specialists.

+ Caring and personalized support that promotes wellness.

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1. More Feet on The Ground – Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health (CICMH). 2. University of Lethbridge study, 2020. 3. Canadian Substance Use Costs and Harms 2007–2020, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. 4. Statistics Canada. 5. Prevalence of co-occurring substance use and other mental disorders in the Canadian population, Rush et al., 2008.

Desjardins Insurance refers to Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company.

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