MindBeacon is launching a new digital mental-health program, called Stronger Minds, to support all Canadians through heightened stresses related to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We, as an organization, have been very committed to trying to make mental-health support accessible to Canadians,” says Claire Duboc, managing director of MindBeacon Group. “That’s been a reality, that many are dealing every day with diagnosable mental-health issues, and there needed to be more effective options to help overcome barriers to care. And that’s what we’ve done with Beacon — opened up a new option for people to get therapy in ways that work for them. That personalized, individualized approach was something that was much needed.”
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The free program, available on April 6, is not meant to be a course of therapy, she notes. Instead, it will provide participants with day-to-day guidance from MindBeacon’s team of clinical psychologists, through short expert Q&A videos, quick reads and resilience-building activities, all focused on protecting people’s emotional well-being as the crisis progresses.
“Really, with the COVID-19 crisis, all Canadians are struggling, not just the 20 per cent with diagnosable problems,” says Duboc. “What we wanted to do with Stronger Minds is create a two-way forum where Canadians could go to get this guidance, but could also tell us what they wanted to hear about. And that’s what they’re able to do through the program — guide our experts to the things Canadians want to learn more about and understand.”
The program is being introduced with support from Green Shield Canada and Manulife Financial Corp.
“We have seen firsthand that our customers are looking for ways to access mental well-being support and information as we continue to navigate the impacts of a pandemic,” said Donna Carbell, head of group benefits at Manulife, in a press release. “The time to act is now. Our sponsorship of Stronger Minds enables Canadians to access mental-health information from their home.”
Joe Blomeley, executive vice-president of individual, public sector and mental health at Green Shield Canada, noted mental-health challenges have been a common theme across the country. “It’s in our DNA to step up in moments like this and bring high-quality mental-health care options within easier reach. Beacon digital therapy has already improved the mental health of thousands of Canadians, and we are excited about the potential of the Stronger Minds program.”
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