Voya & TELUS: Boosting Mental Health Support in Workplaces

Voya Financial, a retirement, employee benefits and investment management company, collaborates with TELUS Health in a significant shift in how organisations approach workplace mental health support and employee wellbeing programmes.

TELUS Health is a Canadian-based business that empowers people to live healthier lives, while supporting organisations to create more productive, wellbeing-focused workplaces through global leadership in healthcare technology.

Through the deal, the businesses aim to integrate TELUS Health's Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) services with Voya's Group Annual Term Life Insurance to strengthen the EAP services available.

This integration represents a notable development in how healthcare support is delivered within workplace benefit structures, offering employees more streamlined access to mental health resources.

Healthcare delivery through hybrid support

This partnership provides employees with a holistic support system for managing life's pressures.

By merging digital tools with professional guidance, the initiative assists staff when resolving personal issues before they impact their mental health or professional performance.

Alan King SVP Employer Solutions at TELUS Health says: "Employers and insurers are recognising that mental health plays a critical role in how people show up at work, manage their finances and navigate everyday life.

"Bringing together Voya's leadership in employee benefits with our experience in mental health and well-being allows us to expand access to more personalised support and make it easier for people to get the help they need when they need it."

TELUS Health operates through a hybrid model, pairing its online platform with professional consultancy to deliver different levels of assistance.

This model enables more flexible healthcare delivery that accommodates varying levels of employee need.

The business's core features encompass financial planning, identity theft recovery and wellness coaching, as well as additional resources for family and professional life.

These integrated services recognise the interconnected nature of mental health, acknowledging that financial stress and personal challenges can significantly impact psychological wellbeing.

The standard package focuses on early intervention and flexible access, while the premium tier is available for specialised needs, such as intensive mental health programmes and crisis management.

This tiered approach allows organisations to match the level of intervention to the severity of employee needs.

"As mental and emotional wellbeing continue to play a critical role in employee engagement and productivity, it's essential that we work with service providers who share our commitment to delivering meaningful, trusted support," says Maleiha Russell VP Life and Disability at Voya Financial.

"TELUS Health brings a strong combination of clinical expertise, innovation and accessibility that aligns with our goal of helping employers support their people in impactful ways."

Advancing workplace mental health and global reach

By joining forces, TELUS Health utilises Voya's broader approach to mental and behavioural health.

This reinforces the company's focus on providing better access, quality and thoughtful care navigation across all its workplace benefits.

Any additional information on the new EAP offering is shared directly with TELUS Health and Voya's clients.

According to the companies, this measured rollout approach ensures clients receive comprehensive information about how to access and maximise the healthcare benefits available through the partnership.

As a leading retirement, employee benefits and investment management firm, Voya Financial serves approximately 18 million individual and institutional clients across the globe.

TELUS Health, which operates in more than 200 countries and territories, is a division and subsidiary of TELUS Corporation that has more than 106,800 active employees.

The business supports more than 161 million people across the globe, spanning their physical, mental and financial wellbeing journey.

TELUS Health leverages an integrated model designed to link workforce wellbeing programmes and personalised preventive care with the digital infrastructure used by practitioners and insurers.

The organisation's use of proprietary research and data analytics demonstrates a focus on early intervention and culturally specific strategies that intend to improve outcomes for both individual users and broader workplace environments.