Sun Life pilots new personalized coach to
help Clients navigate their mental health journey
TORONTO, Dec. 10, 2020 /CNW/ - With the pandemic impacting
holiday plans, feelings of loneliness and anxiety are bound to take
their toll on the mental health of Canadians. A recent survey by
Sun Life reveals that nearly 60 per cent of Canadians say the
pandemic continues to negatively impact their mental health. Yet,
almost half of all Canadians (40%) report they do not spend any
time on their mental health each week.
When it comes to how Canadians manage their mental health, the
study finds differences across gender and age groups. More men
(46%) report spending no time on their mental health, compared to
women (34%). Across generations, Boomers, those aged 55 and older
are the least likely (55%) to focus on their mental health.
The Sun Life survey finds that of those who spend time on their
mental health, most (22%) Canadians report spending under one hour
a week, followed by those that say they spend one to three hours
per week on average (21%). This figure drops down significantly to
nine per cent of Canadians spending three to five hours a week on
their mental health.
Making mental health a priority everyday
All Canadians
have mental health. Just as people take proactive steps to invest
in their physical and financial health, Canadians need to do the
same for their mental well-being. If you never spend time focusing
on your mental health, it can be overwhelming. Sun Life recommends
Canadians start small, with one or two acts of self-care each
day.
"Many people think focusing on their mental health means therapy
– but that's only one tool available. There are various actions you
can take to help improve your mental health. Whether you're getting
some fresh air or doing a free online mindfulness program, it's the
small steps that add up," said Dr. Sam
Mikail, Director, Mental Health Solutions, Sun Life.
"Managing your mental health is a process that we all must make
time for. Investing now can help reduce potential issues down the
road."
Lumino Health, an innovation from Sun Life, is a digital
platform with free health resources, including mental health
resources to help Canadians identify and navigate where they are on
their journey. The platform also includes a health provider search
tool to help Canadians connect with local healthcare professionals,
even virtually.
Personalized Mental Health Coach for Group Benefits
Clients
Sun Life's benefits plans are helping to bridge the
gap by using predictive analytics to identify Clients who are at
the greatest risk of developing a mental health problem. Sun Life
guides Clients on their individual mental health journey, towards
the right resources and support for them. Suggestions include
personalized actions or connecting with a practitioner for
additional care.
"The pandemic continues to amplify the country's mental health
crisis and highlights the importance of helping Canadians live
healthier lives," said Dave Jones,
Senior Vice-President, Group Benefits, Sun Life Canada. "At Sun
Life, we are committed to empowering our Employees, Clients and all
Canadians in managing their mental health. Our goal is to equip
Canadians with virtual mental health tools to help them get the
support they need wherever they are in their journey."
About the survey
The survey is based on findings of an
Ipsos poll conducted between November
12 – 15, 2020. A sample of 1,000 Canadians was drawn from
the Ipsos I-Say online panel aged 18 and older. The data for
Canadians surveyed was weighted to ensure the sample's regional,
age, and gender composition reflects that of the actual Canadian
population. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a
credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within
+/- 3.5% at 95% confidence level had all Canadian adults been
polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other
sources of error, including, but not limited to methodological
change, coverage error and measurement error.
About Sun Life
Sun Life is a leading international
financial services organization providing insurance, wealth and
asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun
Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including
Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong
Kong, the Philippines,
Japan, Indonesia, India, China,
Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of September 30, 2020, Sun Life had total assets
under management of $1,186 billion.
For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New
York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the
ticker symbol SLF.
Note to editors: All figures in Canadian dollars
Media Relations Contact:
Laura Torchia
Manager, Corporate Communications
T. 416-540-5918
laura.torchia@sunlife.com
SOURCE Sun Life Financial Canada