The mental health crisis is incredibly complex with <a href="https://cmha.ca/fast-facts-about-mental-illness" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">one in five Canadians</a>* personally experiencing a mental health problem in any given year. Mental health can affect Starbucks partners (employees) in their personal lives, in their stores, and in the neighbourhoods we serve, which is why the company is committed to eliminating the stigma and providing ongoing mental health resources and support.&nbsp;

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Partner care has always been at the core of Starbucks. The company is constantly listening to partner feedback to inform how it will enhance the innovative benefits it offers to support them and their families. Starbucks wants to ensure that every partner, in every store, knows how and where to seek help for themselves and others.

Mental health is a fundamental part of our humanity, and Starbucks is committed to providing its partners with resources that are truly relevant to their needs.&nbsp;

Read on to learn more about Starbucks mental health initiatives.&nbsp;

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A reimagined mental health care benefit

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LifeWorks, a leading digital wellness platform and app, becomes available to all 24,000 Canadian partners and their family members in August, offering access to critical support services, such as uncapped short-term 24/7 counselling sessions and financial advice.&nbsp;

The <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2020/starbucks-canada-invests-in-comprehensive-total-wellness-for-its-partners-at-a-critical-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reimagined mental health benefit</a> is more accessible, robust and tailored to partners specific needs than ever before. Going beyond the traditional Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services, such as counselling, referrals, and advice, LifeWorks provides a more comprehensive mental, financial, physical and lifestyle health resource for all partners, including those working fewer than 20-hours a week who may not be eligible for benefits.&nbsp;

Dedicated mental health training

In July, Starbucks invests in mental health training for store managers in Canada and the U.S. Developed by the National Council for Behavioral Health and inspired by<a href="https://www.mhfa.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Mental Health First Aid</a>, the program teaches partners the skills to listen for, recognize and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use.&nbsp;

This training equips Starbucks leaders with the tools and knowledge to guide their teams at any stage of a mental health crisis. This additional in-store support also means retail partners can feel comfortable talking to their leaders about their mental health challenges and be able to easily find resources specific to their needs.

A mindful investment&nbsp;

In January, Starbucks adds the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2020/starbucks-headspace-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meditation app Headspace</a> to its suite of comprehensive benefits and resources to support its partners. All Canadian partners — as well as over 200,000 partners in North American stores and offices — receive a subscription. Partners can sign up and get access to hundreds of themed sessions and easy guided meditations on everything from stress and sleep to focus and anxiety.&nbsp;

Research shows many mental health-related <a href="https://www.headspace.com/meditation/benefits" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">benefits of meditation</a>. With this powerful tool, partners will be able to improve their overall well-being in a long-lasting, positive way.

Starbucks $5,000 per year mental health benefit includes an even greater list of practitioners this year. This includes psychotherapists, social workers, psychologists, guidance counsellors, marriage counsellors, and couple and family therapists.&nbsp;

Declaring mental health matters

Starbucks lays out its comprehensive mental health initiative at a <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2019/12000-starbucks-partners-gather-in-chicago-for-transformative-leadership-experience/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chicago leadership event</a> in September, which brings together 12,000 store managers and field leaders from Canada and the U.S. “Together, we’re on a mission to take a stand, help break the stigma, and get even more partners and their family the support they need,” Starbucks chief partner officer, Lucy Helm said.

Continuing the conversation

The leadership event sparks conversations about mental well-being and emotional health. Partners begin sharing dialogue, feedback and ideas regarding mental health and well-being in the company’s Mental Health Matters online forum, with nearly 5,000 partners contributing.

Supporting Starbucks leaders

In partnership with mental health experts, Starbucks creates a pocketbook resource to provide Starbucks leaders with resources to support mental health conversations with their partners. The guide also directs leaders on how to support a partner who is having a mental health crisis.

The <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2019/update-on-starbucks-ongoing-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-efforts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Third Place Development Series</a> training rolls out to partners in Canada and the U.S. The training focuses on creating a warm, welcoming and inclusive environment in Starbucks stores and corporate offices, and tackles topics such as loneliness, vulnerability, mindful decision making, building resiliency, and the power of small acts and conversation to strengthen human connection.&nbsp;

Starbucks Canada launches an unprecedented <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2016/starbucks-canada-mental-health-benefit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$5,000 per year mental health benefit</a> for all eligible employees, who work a minimum of 20 hours per week, and their dependents. This represents among the highest mental health benefits offered at any company in Canada across all industries. Most employer support for mental health covers the cost of three to four counselling sessions without recovery or mitigation, whereas a $5,000 benefit will allow for longer-term treatment.&nbsp;

Starbucks offers full extended health and dental care benefits to eligible full and part-time partners, including a mental health benefit.

*Source: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://cmha.ca/fast-facts-about-mental-illness" target="_blank">Canadian Mental Health Association</a>

Mental health can affect Starbucks partners (employees) in their personal lives, in their stores, and in the neighbourhoods we serve, which is why the company is committed to eliminating the stigma and providing ongoing mental health resources and support.

Starbucks Canada’s Comprehensive Mental Health Initiative: A Timeline

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Starbucks Canada

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More than 20,000 Canadian partners (employees) and their families now have access to LifeWorks total suite of mental, financial, physical and lifestyle wellness services

Starbucks Canada this week is making LifeWorks, a leading digital wellness platform and app, available to all 24,000 Canadian partners (employees) and their family members, offering access to critical support services including uncapped short-term 24/7 counselling sessions and financial advice at a time when it is needed most.

LifeWorks’ total wellbeing platform goes significantly beyond the traditional Employee Assistance Program (EAP). It includes rewards and recognition, proactive advice, and easy-to-use learning modules and assessment tools. The platform also provides more comprehensive mental, physical, social and financial health resource that better meets the individual needs of partners. Importantly, Starbucks is making LifeWorks available to all partners, including those working fewer than 20-hours a week who may not be eligible for benefits.

“Caring for partners is fundamental to who we are at our core as a company,” says Cara Beck, Starbucks Canada’s vice president of Partner Resources. “We know that now, more than ever, we have a responsibility as a company to do more to support partners wherever they are on their wellness journey. Our commitment is unwavering.” 

Canadians have faced so much change over the last several months navigating the global pandemic and struggles with uncertainty have heightened mental health concerns. A recent survey by Statistics Canada&nbsp; found 88 per cent of Canadians have experienced at least one symptom of anxiety since physical distancing began.* And, according to a monthly <a href="https://morneaushepell.mediaroom.com/2020-08-05-Anti-Black-racism-awareness-and-response-linked-to-Canadians-mental-health" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mental Health Index™ report</a> from Morneau Shepell, who developed the LifeWorks platform, Canadians’ mental health has been on the decline for the past four consecutive months.**

“The LifeWorks platform provides support for mental, physical, social and financial wellbeing. If any one of these four pillars falters, it can negatively affect the others,” said Neil King, President, LifeWorks and Executive Vice President, Morneau Shepell. “Canadians across all industries are struggling with their mental health right now, which is why it is so critical that we approach wellbeing in a holistic way.”

LifeWorks is one more step in Starbucks commitment to supporting partners and breaking the stigma around mental health. In 2016, Starbucks Canada introduced an unprecedented <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2016/starbucks-canada-mental-health-benefit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$5,000 mental health benefit</a>, which for three consecutive years has been the single most-used benefit behind drug coverage among Canadian benefits-eligible partners. Earlier this year, Starbucks also provided all partners with free subscriptions to the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2020/starbucks-headspace-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meditation app Headspace</a> to make mental health support even more accessible and to improve partners’ overall wellbeing in a long-lasting, positive way.

And, this month, the company will begin dedicated mental health training for Canadian store managers to enable these leaders with the tools and knowledge to guide their teams at any stage of a mental health crisis. This additional in-store support means retail partners can feel comfortable talking to their leaders about their mental health challenges and be able to easily find resources specific to their needs.

<a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2020/starbucks-canada-comprehensive-mental-health-initiative-a-timeline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Click here</a>&nbsp;to learn more about Starbucks Canada’s commitment to break the stigma around mental health.

*Source: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/200527/dq200527b-eng.htm" target="_blank">Statistics Canada</a> **Source: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://morneaushepell.mediaroom.com/2020-08-05-Anti-Black-racism-awareness-and-response-linked-to-Canadians-mental-health" target="_blank">Morneau Shepell</a>

More than 20,000 Canadian partners (employees) and their families now have access to LifeWorks total suite of mental, financial, physical and lifestyle wellness services.

Starbucks Canada Invests in Comprehensive Total Wellness for its Partners at a Critical Time

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https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2020/starbucks-canada-invests-in-comprehensive-total-wellness-for-its-partners-at-a-critical-time/