For this reason and many more, University of Manitoba employees can now benefit from culturally sensitive counselling services through a new Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) Kii by CloudMD. Kii offers mental health supports for the BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, along with Elder and Knowledge Keeper supports for Indigenous employees.

“As a community committed to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, the University of Manitoba recognizes the impacts these lived experiences can have on our employees’ mental health and well-being,” said Rene Ouellette, Associate Vice-President (Human Resources). “We’re proud to enhance this commitment and offer UM employees mental health supports that suit their individual needs and identities.”

Employees can look forward to working with counsellors and therapists from diverse backgrounds who have experience working with BIPOC or 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals or have lived experiences as members of these communities.

Elder and Knowledge keeper supports for First Nations, Métis and Inuit employees involves a specific intake process that first pursues the client’s requested Elder/Knowledge Keeper. If you don’t have a specific Elder/Knowledge Keeper in mind, the intake nurse care coordinator at Kii will attempt to connect you with a counsellor who has lived experience or therapeutic experience working with Indigenous Peoples.

UM employees who have questions about the intake process or the services Kii provides can call Kii at 1-866-814-0018 or log into the Kii online portal.

These changes mean new and improved mental health services for employees, including extended coverage for everyone in their immediate family or household.

“We are excited to continue the recent enhancements made to employee benefits at UM and to be able to provide even more mental health resources to the UM community and its families,” said Jamie Gerlach, Director, Total Compensation and HR Systems.

Here are some highlights of the additional services employees will have access to starting May 1:

• Culturally sensitive counselling, with counsellors experienced in numerous issues affecting the BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ communities
• Up to 14 counselling sessions per year (up from six)
• Elder and Knowledge Keeper Indigenous mental health supports
• Therapist-led internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy
• Enhanced family coverage

All UM employees, whether supplemental health plan members or not, will be able to register for Kii services on May 1 using our organization access code, which will be shared via email. Until then, employees can continue to use their TELUS Health One EFAP benefits. If an employee contacts TELUS Health One on or up to April 30, they will continue to work with a TELUS Health One counsellor until their issue is resolved or session cease.

Benefits information session webinar

Ahead of these new changes, the Benefits Teams will host an info session on April 24 at 2 p.m. via Teams, where they will discuss the EFAP changes and the recent enhancements to the supplemental health plan enhancements.

This session is open to UM employees only. Please check your email for the registration link.

Webinar recording

If you cannot attend the info session, a recording will be made available shortly after the webinar for all who register (you’ll receive an email). For those not wishing to register, a link to the recording will be provided in an email announcing the launch of the new EFAP on May 1.

Also keep an eye on UM Today for a forthcoming story all about the new Indigenous mental health supports available through Kii.