This text is part of the special World of Work section
45% of Canadian business owners suffer from mental health issues, according to the latest survey conducted by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). As of January 31, it is the first bank in Canada to offer a program offering its business owner clients easy access to virtual therapy services.
Every year, BDC takes the pulse of the mental health of its entrepreneurial clients using surveys. “We saw the situation deteriorate after the pandemic, because once it started to fade, the economy slowed down,” notes Annie Marsolais, chief marketing officer and mental health ambassador at BDC.
The cost of mental health support is the biggest barrier for business owners to see a mental health therapist, followed by social embarrassment, difficulty accessing and lack of information, according to the latest survey carried out by BDC in 2023. The Bank sought to provide a concrete solution to its clients, mainly small business owners. “Virtual therapy was the best way to deliver positive change more quickly. It allows our clients to be followed at the times and in the environment that suits them, without needing to talk to those around them if they do not wish to,” underlines M.me Marsolais.
Confidential support
More than 150 BDC clients have already registered in the program set up in partnership with GreenShield Santé, the healthcare division of the non-profit organization GreenShield. “Our clients have access to an external platform which offers them a therapist – whom they can accept or not – based on certain criteria that they have entered,” explains Annie Marsolais. The program offers them three hours of free virtual therapy, which can then be continued, if they wish, at a preferential rate.
“Our program aims to treat the most common disorders such as stress or anxiety. The therapist is also able to recommend follow-up with other specialists if necessary,” specifies M.me Marsolais. Outsourced to GreenShield Santé, this service offers complete confidentiality to its users. “Our customers receive a code that allows them to benefit from it, but we do not know which of them are using it,” indicates the head of the marketing department.
The danger of the “superhero”
Providing a quickly accessible program was a priority for BDC. “We know that, very often, business owners suffering from mental health problems wait too long to consult,” says Annie Marsolais.
Especially since our culture, based on performance and the idea that the entrepreneur must be a strong person, does not encourage them to confide their problems. “Enough of talking about superheroes and overvaluing entrepreneurship! says the mental health ambassador. Entrepreneurs face real challenges and they often feel very alone at the top. But it is important to surround yourself, to talk about mental health early and to ask for help”, encourages the one for whom those who do it become more serene, more able to face the challenges of daily life and gain greater mental agility.
In addition to the program in place, BDC lists on its site the resources available in Canada to take care of your mental health. An approach whose benefits are on two levels. “A healthy entrepreneur is a healthy business!” said Annie Marsolais. But an entrepreneur who is doing less well takes all the weight on his shoulders and is less likely to delegate or seek support. This is what we are trying to highlight to bring about change and the reflex to ask for help. »
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.