The program targets front-line employees in the following categories:

  • Personal Support Workers
  • Nurses
  • Doctors
  • Public safety personnel (such as police and firefighters).

The therapy program is part of a research study conducted by the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT). Wayfound, a leading Canadian mental health centre, conducts the therapy. There is no cost to health and public safety Clients or individual participants.

The program focuses on these front-line workers due to the nature of their role:

  • exposure to traumatic events,
  • traumatic grief, and
  • compassion fatigue.

Wayfound invited Sun Life to be part of this initiative. Our role is to promote the program to clients – and to our advisor and consultant network.

About the treatment program

  • The therapy. The government-funded treatment program involves a resiliency-based therapy known as “BOS” (before operational stress). BOS treats individuals who have been, or are likely to be, exposed to operational stress and potentially traumatic events. 
  • The benefits. We know that operational stress affects almost all front-line health and public safety employees. Wayfound designed their BOS program to mitigate traumatic psychological effects from this health and public safety work. This can help employees stay mentally healthy and able to carry on with their jobs.
  • The delivery. Licensed and experienced clinical psychologists carry out the BOS program treatments. These treatments can be digital or in person depending on the severity of the condition. Treatments are free to participants as part of the federal government’s research grant.

Wayfound will ask participants if they would like to participate in the CIPSRT research survey. Participation in this research is voluntary and is not a requirement for participation in the BOS program.

October 25 deadline – raise awareness with your health and public safety Clients

We encourage you to make health and public safety Clients aware of this opportunity. These Clients can be with Sun Life or any another provider. To be part of the program, individuals must apply by October 25, 2022.

You can encourage participation by sharing this toolkit. It provides detailed information about the program, including all sign up details.

We’re also sending out a targeted Focus Update to plan sponsors who have employees working in the health and public safety fields.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please reach out to your Sun Life Group Benefits representative.