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Mental health resources

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Who is TELUS Health?

TELUS Health is the largest employee and family assistance program (EFAP) provider in Canada, supporting employees and their families so that they can manage work, health and life challenges. All support services are accessed voluntarily by the individual and are strictly confidential. Their approach is focused on innovation and client service excellence; they are the only provider that has developed a broad range of clinically-sounds digital delivery channels including video counselling, First Chat, and an award winning app – My EAP.

What types of suggestions do they offer for work, health, life?

Short-term Professional Counselling provides support for personal and emotional issues.

Specialized Counselling and Online Programs to assist with career challenges, managing stress, and more.

Family Support Services provides access to child and eldercare resources.

Naturopathic Services provide consultation with Naturopathic Doctors.

Legal Support Services provide consultation with professional lawyers to answer legal questions.

Nutritional Services offer consultation with Registered Dieticians on any nutritional matter or concern.

Financial Support Services provide consultation with financial professionals to answer financial questions.

Health Coaching by Registered Nurses can provide information and advice.

Am I eligible for EFAP?

UVic staff and faculty and dependents are eligible forsupport through our employee and family assistance program (EFAP).

EFAP is available to members of the UVic Retirees Association (UVRA) and to their surviving spouses.

Are my dependents covered?

Your spouse, children and dependent parents are eligible to receive coverage under your EFAP.

When does my coverage begin and end?

Your coverage continues during your employment with the University.

Is this a confidential service?

All EFAP services are confidential, within the limits of the law. This means that no one will ever know that you have used the program unless you choose to tell them. UVic is not informed of the identity of those using any of the EFAP services, including online services.

TELUS Health is required, by law, to contact law enforcement if they believe there is imminent danger to a child or to yourself, or if you are going to harm others.

How do I access my EFAP?

Access your EFAP through TELUS Health, 24/7:

Call: 1-844-880-9142 
Login: gives you access to hundreds of articles, tools and resources
Mobile: Download the TELUS Health app on your mobile device app store

UVic is committed to fostering environments for work and study that are safe, supportive, inclusive and healthy, encourage mutual respect and civility, while recognizing that people are our primary strength.

Assisting someone in need

How can I help a colleague?

It can be difficult to know what to do when a colleague is dealing with mental health issues. Knowing how to support your colleagues can make a difference in their ability to cope. How do you know if a colleague has a mental health problem? At times it will seem obvious when someone you work with is going through a hard time, but there is no simple way of knowing if they have a mental health problem and sometimes you don’t need to know. It’s more important to respond sensitively to someone who seems troubled than to find out whether or not they have a diagnosis.

Possible signs of distress

  • Significant changes in behaviour or performance (e.g. decreased interest or involvement in work, tardiness, increased absences, showing signs of lethargy, agitation, confusion, outbursts, excessive anger, changes in physical appearance)
  • Social withdrawal or isolation (e.g. uncommunicative, avoidance, not showing up for meetings, lack of cooperation)
  • Signs of excessive drug or alcohol use
  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering things or making decisions
  • Expressed feelings of hopelessness, despair, behaviours that indicate a likelihood of harm to self or others (e.g. suicidal ideation, verbal or written communication that includes plans to harm self and/or others)
  • Preoccupation with/or expressions of violence, or persons who have engaged in violent acts or with weapons

Supporting a colleague

  • Take time to ask others how they are. After all, we’re all in this together.
  • Pay attention to changes—notice when someone is not quite themselves.
  • If you notice changes and are concerned about a colleague, it’s best to express concern without making assumptions or judgments or diagnosing.
  • Offer a listening ear—simply being there will mean a lot.
  • Ask how you can help—and respect your colleague’s wishes.
  • Suggest resources both on campus and community resources.
  • Depending on your relationship, you can still keep in touch with a colleague who takes time off.
  • When a colleague returns to work after time off due to a mental illness, make them feel welcome and appreciated. Saying nothing because you’re worried about saying the wrong thing can make your colleague feel worse.

Campus resources and support

Campus Security and Personal
Safety Coordinators
250-721-7599 | uvic.ca/security

Equity and Human Rights Office
250-721-7007 |

Human Resources
Work Life Consultants
250-721-8085 | uvic.ca/hr

Office of Occupational Health, Safety and Environment
250-721-8971 |

Office of Indigenous Affairs
250-472-4913 | uvic.ca/services/indigenous

Office of the Vice-President
Academic and Provost – Faculty Relations
250-721-7114 | uvic.ca/vpacademic/administrators/faculty

Employee Groups

CUPE 4163
uvic.ca/bargaining/cupe4163-1-2
uvic.ca/bargaining/cupe4163-3

CUPE 917
uvic.ca/bargaining/cupe917

CUPE 951
uvic.ca/bargaining/cupe951

Faculty Association
uvic.ca/bargaining/faculty

Professional Employees Association (PEA)
uvic.ca/bargaining/pea

EFAP

Employee & Family Assistance Program Services
1-844-880-9142 

On Campus Services

Multifaith Services
250-721-8338 | uvic.ca/multifaith

How to assist a student in distress

The Student Mental Health webpages have resources and services available to assist you in responding to students who may be struggling with mental health issues.

Mind and body - Your health, your way

As a faculty, librarian or staff member, it’s important to take steps to maintain your own wellness. Our daily lives can be stressful and demanding and at times we may feel overwhelmed. Whether it’s workload, family issues, illness, loss or other concerns sometimes we need assistance in managing.

Well-being is much more than just physical health, exercise or nutrition. It is the complete integration of states of well-being.  To find resources to support your wellness see our balanced living page.

How UVic supports you

We all have mental health and our positive sense of mental well-being is unique to us. On this page we have compiled a number of resources and tools to assist you to find the right resources to help your mental health

Download a copy of our Mental Health and Wellbeing Reference Guide.

Top 10 places on campus to find calm and relaxation

  1. Finnerty Gardens
  2. Mystic Vale
  3. Sitting by Petch fountain
  4. Respite rooms in the McPherson Library and Diana M Priestly Law Library in the Fraser Building
  5. Interfaith Chapel – Meditation times or Labyrinth walks
  6. The Quad
  7. Pick a bench anywhere on campus and people watch
  8. Michele Pujol – Upper room in the SUB
  9. Library silent floors
  10. University Centre – second floor grey couches

External resources  

How can I help a colleague?

It can be difficult to know what to do when a colleague is dealing with mental health issues. Knowing how to support your colleagues can make a difference in their ability to cope. How do you know if a colleague has a mental health problem? At times it will seem obvious when someone you work with is going through a hard time, but there is no simple way of knowing if they have a mental health problem and sometimes you don’t need to know. It’s more important to respond sensitively to someone who seems troubled than to find out whether or not they have a diagnosis.

Possible signs of distress

  • Significant changes in behaviour or performance (e.g. decreased interest or involvement in work, tardiness, increased absences, showing signs of lethargy, agitation, confusion, outbursts, excessive anger, changes in physical appearance)
  • Social withdrawal or isolation (e.g. uncommunicative, avoidance, not showing up for meetings, lack of cooperation)
  • Signs of excessive drug or alcohol use
  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering things or making decisions
  • Expressed feelings of hopelessness, despair, behaviours that indicate a likelihood of harm to self or others (e.g. suicidal ideation, verbal or written communication that includes plans to harm self and/or others)
  • Preoccupation with/or expressions of violence, or persons who have engaged in violent acts or with weapons

Supporting a colleague

  • Take time to ask others how they are. After all, we’re all in this together.
  • Pay attention to changes—notice when someone is not quite themselves.
  • If you notice changes and are concerned about a colleague, it’s best to express concern without making assumptions or judgments or diagnosing.
  • Offer a listening ear—simply being there will mean a lot.
  • Ask how you can help—and respect your colleague’s wishes.
  • Suggest resources both on campus and community resources.
  • Depending on your relationship, you can still keep in touch with a colleague who takes time off.
  • When a colleague returns to work after time off due to a mental illness, make them feel welcome and appreciated. Saying nothing because you’re worried about saying the wrong thing can make your colleague feel worse.

Campus resources and support

Campus Security and Personal
Safety Coordinators
250-721-7599 | uvic.ca/security

Equity and Human Rights Office
250-721-7007 |

Human Resources
Work Life Consultants
250-721-8085 | uvic.ca/hr

Office of Occupational Health, Safety and Environment
250-721-8971 |

Office of Indigenous Affairs
250-472-4913 | uvic.ca/services/indigenous

Office of the Vice-President
Academic and Provost – Faculty Relations
250-721-7114 | uvic.ca/vpacademic/administrators/faculty

Employee Groups

CUPE 4163
uvic.ca/bargaining/cupe4163-1-2
uvic.ca/bargaining/cupe4163-3

CUPE 917
uvic.ca/bargaining/cupe917

CUPE 951
uvic.ca/bargaining/cupe951

Faculty Association
uvic.ca/bargaining/faculty

Professional Employees Association (PEA)
uvic.ca/bargaining/pea

EFAP

Employee & Family Assistance Program Services
1-844-880-9142 

On Campus Services

Multifaith Services
250-721-8338 | uvic.ca/multifaith

How to assist a student in distress

The Student Mental Health webpages have resources and services available to assist you in responding to students who may be struggling with mental health issues.