For every dollar invested in integrated mental-health coverage and care, $1.50 is returned through lower mental-health claims by year two, even before accounting for the impacts of absenteeism or disability, according to a new report by Greenshield Canada.
The report — which drew on several sources, including reports by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, the insurer’s own data and the 2025 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey — found employers saw members access support more quickly and experience greater continuity of care, contributing to measurable clinical improvements.
It noted in 2025, more than half (52 per cent) of Canadian employees reported experiencing mental-health challenges that affected their work, driving increased benefits claims, productivity losses and a growing urgency for solutions that meet people’s unique needs. While many employers have expanded mental-health benefits in response, access alone has not consistently translated into timely or effective care, the report said.
Among plan members who were matched with a mental-health therapist, 75 per cent said they chose to be seen within a week. Those who completed their first session within seven days of booking showed 25 per cent greater clinical improvement.
Nearly all (96 per cent) of members stayed with the therapist they were first matched with. Those who did, reported 93 per cent satisfaction and, by the third session, demonstrated 70 per cent greater clinical improvement than those who rematched.
“Employee mental-health supports and insurance have long been managed in silos, which can lead to delays and gaps in care,” said Joe Blomeley, executive vice-president and head of Greenshield Health, in a press release. “As mental-health needs continue to rise, employers have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to consider a more connected approach. Our data suggests that integrating coverage and care can help people access support sooner and contribute to better health outcomes over time.”
Read: How employers can support women’s mental health across their working lives