Pandemic fatigue, mental health, and how CADA 360 programs can help
April 21, 2021
In preparation for the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Mental Health Week, which will take place between May 3-9, 2021, the CADA 360 team is highlighting the importance of mental health as pandemic life continues to take a toll on Canadians across the country.
“We've all been affected by the pandemic, and now we have officially passed the one-year mark and are eyeing an inevitable third wave. So we are starting to show pandemic fatigue,” said Karen O’Connell, Director, Governance & Plan Management, Benefits 360 Health & Welfare Trust, CADA.
In an interview with CADA Newsline, O’Connell said people are letting their guard down, schools are moving back and forth between online and in-person learning, and there are a number of other changes that create new challenges for people to adapt to — including families with children that are either in daycare or school.
“There's a lot of juggling that's taking place as people try to adapt to this changing environment,” said O’Connell. “And it's really now that we're seeing signs that the pandemic is definitely taking a toll on mental health, and the stress and anxiety of this added burden of coping with the virus is part of that changing environment.”
O’Connell said there are resources available for dealers, their employees and dependents who participate in the CADA 360 Employee Benefits plan, as they have access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at no extra cost to the dealership.
The EAP is provided though LifeWorks by Morneau Shepell, a total well-being platform that offers immediate solutions for day-to-day life concerns such as relationships, money, work-life balance, substance abuse and more. And there are perks and discounts when shopping through certain retailers online, such as for vitamins, clothing or select entertaining products. Employee Benefit plan members can sign up and review the details via mycada360.ca.
There are also modules available through Lifeworks that provide employees with access to a variety of content that would help them work through their difficult situation. Much of it is done through self-study, at their own pace, with different programs that take them through various aspects of stress. This could mean anxiety or depression, for example, and it is all confidential.
They also have access to counselling services to help employees work through the best approach to identify whatever issue they may be struggling with, to ensure they receive the right kind of support.
“The direction you’re going to take could make a meaningful difference,” said O’Connell. “Access to services when you need them is vitally important. The secure platform comes loaded with relevant content and video articles, modular programs, and then there's also the ability to customize it to suit one’s particular interests.”
If the employee is challenged with parenting issues, they can prioritize the content — whether their priority has to do with exercising, improving eating habits while in lockdown, or something else. The content is also available to help managers deal with challenging situations in the workplace and provide support to employees.
“People are promoted because they're good at their job, but they don't always have management skills,” said O’Connell. “So how do we help employees build resistance and deal with difficult situations in the workplace? These are all scenarios to consider, and there's good information there — like actionable information that managers can use.”
CADA will also provide support for on-site counselling in the event of a trauma or other crisis in the workplace. The service is offered to all dealerships, regardless of whether they participate in Employee Benefits, so long as they are members of CADA.
“It’s a service for all members and it can be mobilized quickly,” said O’Connell. “The dealership would just need to reach out to me at [email protected] or 905-946-3652, and I would get the ball in motion for that.”
In addition, she said Canada Life offers free resources through Workplace Strategies for Mental Health, including strategies for managers and leaders on building resilient teams, dealing with burnout, conflict resolution, grief response, and more. Resources for employees include work-life balance, solutions for working parents, and more.
And Workplace Strategies for Mental Health offers assessments, tools, and workshops on a variety of topics to support mental health and psychological safety. More information can be found at https://www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com .