Latest news with #GreenShieldHealth
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Mental Health and Productivity of Entrepreneurs Under Pressure Amid High Uncertainty: BDC Survey
MONTREAL, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mental health challenges are significantly affecting the productivity of Canadian entrepreneurs, according to a new survey from BDC, Canada's business development bank. As stressors related to economic and political uncertainty and global events or crises rise sharply in 2025—up 5 and 10 percentage points respectively, more than one-third (36%) of business owners report that mental health challenges interfere with their ability to work at least once a week. Among entrepreneurs under 40, that number rises sharply to 60%, compared to just 19% of those aged 50 and over. 'Productivity is not just about tools and processes—it's also about people,' said Pierre Cléroux, Chief Economist at BDC. 'When entrepreneurs are overwhelmed, their ability to lead, innovate, and grow their businesses suffers. By taking care of the entrepreneur, and enabling them to take care of themselves, we can help the very people that drive Canada's growth.' Support Makes a Difference Despite their demanding schedules, many entrepreneurs are taking steps to care for their mental health, with 35% indicating they sought professional help to address a mental health concern in the last year. Younger entrepreneurs are especially proactive, with 57% of those under 45 seeking professional support. For the first time, BDC's annual survey asked entrepreneurs about the benefits of professional support: Over half of entrepreneurs (51%) sought help after recognizing their own struggles, while 35% were prompted by encouragement from family and friends, underscoring the crucial role personal networks play in driving action. A New Set of Challenges for Business Owners in 2025 The survey also reveals a shift in the stressors affecting entrepreneurs. While inflation and interest rates were key concerns in 2024, broader economic and geopolitical uncertainty have become significantly more prominent in 2025 and will continue to be in the foreseeable future. Stressors that increased significantly in 2025: In contrast, concern over inflation (43%, -5 points) and high interest rates (25%, -13 points) has declined, suggesting a move toward more immediate, operational concerns. 'Entrepreneurs are navigating a more complex and uncertain environment in 2025,' said Pierre Cléroux, Chief Economist at BDC. 'While inflation has moderated, new pressures—like responding to global instability—are directly affecting how business owners make decisions every day.' How BDC Is Supporting Entrepreneur Mental Health To help entrepreneurs deal with mental health challenges, BDC launched a mental health support initiative in 2024. Through a partnership with GreenShield Health, BDC clients can access free virtual therapy sessions tailored to their needs (availability is limited and exclusive to BDC clients). 'We can't separate productivity from well-being,' said Cléroux. 'Supporting entrepreneurs means supporting their mental health so they can thrive—not just survive.' About the Survey BDC's annual survey on the mental health of business owners was conducted between March 3 and 18, 2025, with responses from 1,510 small business owners across Canada. Since 2018, BDC has carried out these yearly surveys to deepen understanding of the evolving mental health landscape among Canadian entrepreneurs and to help raise awareness of this important issue. To explore the full findings or to access mental health and well-being resources, visit . About BDC: 80 years as Canada's bank for entrepreneurs BDC is a partner of choice for all entrepreneurs looking to access the financing and advice they need to build their businesses and tackle the big challenges of our time. Our investment arm, BDC Capital, offers a wide range of risk capital solutions to help grow the most innovative firms. BDC's development role means we are in a state of perpetual evolution – wherever entrepreneurs go and whatever the Canadian economy needs – we will be there to help them defy the odds. 80 years later, that commitment remains very much alive. BDC's financing services in 2025 alone will add an estimated $25 billion in GDP to Canada's economy over the next five years. We are one of Canada's Top 100 Employers and Canada's Best Diversity Employers, and the first financial institution in Canada to receive the B Corp certification in 2013. For more information on our products and services and to consult free tools, templates and articles, visit or join BDC on social media . Media contact Jean Philippe Nadeau, Senior Communications Advisor, Public Affairs and External Communications BDC 1-844-625-8321 mediainfo@
Cision Canada
17-07-2025
- Health
- Cision Canada
GreenShield Expands Women's and Men's Health Offerings with Canada's First Personalized Hormonal Health Program Français
A bold step forward in health equity and innovation to support whole person wellness, GreenShield's new nurse-led program addresses a critical gap in hormonal health care—empowering Canadians across life stages. TORONTO, July 17, 2025 /CNW/ - Three in four Canadian women experience disruptive menopausal symptoms and one in four men face hormonal shifts like low testosterone. Despite this widespread impact, Canadians still face fragmented education and a one-size-fits-all approach to hormonal health care, which can often lead to worsened health outcomes and increased absenteeism in the workplace. GreenShield, Canada's only national non-profit health and benefits company, today announced the launch of its new Personalized Hormonal Health Program —a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to support Canadians through life-stage hormonal changes. Building on the integrated capabilities of GreenShield+—Canada's first fully integrated platform combining healthcare services and benefits coverage—GreenShield's comprehensive nurse-led Hormonal Health program merges clinical insights with personalized support to proactively manage hormonal health. Whether it's navigating the effects of perimenopause and menopause, or addressing andropause and low testosterone, the program is designed to empower all Canadians to take control of their hormonal wellness with care that adapts to their needs over time. "Hormonal health is not a niche issue—it's a national health gap," said Joe Blomeley, EVP, GreenShield Health. "Nearly half of Canadian women feel unprepared for menopause, and awareness of hormonal changes in men remains limited. Canadians deserve access to care that not only informs but empowers them to thrive through every stage of life. Our new nurse-led program is designed to support all individuals with personalized care that meets their evolving health needs. By delivering integrated, whole-person care, we're advancing our mission of Better Health for All and ensuring no one feels alone on their health journey." Designed to help members understand and manage the impact of hormonal changes on their everyday health—from energy and mood to sleep and metabolism—GreenShield's program includes: A complimentary nurse intake and assessment so employees can get a full picture of their health Full hormone panel testing A personalized care plan tailored to each member's needs Virtual consultations with a hormonal health provider (e.g., nurse practitioner) Ongoing health support via direct messaging Home delivery of any required treatments The program is fully connected into GreenShield's broader ecosystem—making it easy for members to access mental health services, telemedicine, pharmacy care, well-being tools, and their benefits plan all in one place. This creates a fully integrated, holistic care journey that supports members at every stage of their health experience. Whether the member knows exactly what they are looking for, or is unsure where to begin, GreenShield+ offers a guided, intuitive experience. Key features include: Life stage-based support: Tailored content and services that evolve with the member, addressing everything from reproductive health and parenting to menopause and healthy aging. Personalized, data-driven recommendations:"Next Best Action" suggestions that connect members to the right support at the right time. An intuitive interface: Simplified coverage and care navigation, helping members make more confident health decisions. "Hormonal changes can deeply affect a person's physical, mental, and emotional well-being—often leading to lower engagement and more time away from work," said Nadim Kara, Executive Vice President of People and Culture at GreenShield. "Our integrated model is designed to meet people where they are, making it easier to access holistic care that reflects their individual needs. This program is a clear example of how we're evolving our payer-provider model to support the real, everyday health needs of those we serve—including our own employees through our Total Rewards Program." GreenShield's Total Rewards program is market-leading across three priority areas that are core to the company's values: mental health, social impact and inclusion. Notably, the program includes $10,000 of mental health coverage per year, and donation matching of $3,000 per year towards charities of each employee's choice. Last month, GreenShield's Total Rewards Program expanded to include access to its new Hormonal Health program, including three consultations with a nurse practitioner. This offering builds on GreenShield's inclusive benefits for family building, gender affirmation and more, along with expanded plan choices that employees can customize to their lifestyle, all accessible through the GreenShield+ integrated health and benefits platform. About GreenShield As Canada's only national non-profit health and benefits company, GreenShield believes health care is a right, not a privilege. We're dedicated to improving health outcomes, driving systemic change, and building a future where every Canadian can reach their full health and well-being potential. We are revolutionizing the health and benefits experience with coverage and care in one place. Through our unique integrated payer-provider ("payvider") model, we offer insurance, administer benefits and pay claims as a 'payer' while offering health services such as mental health, pharmacy, telemedicine and chronic disease management as a 'provider'. As a non-profit social enterprise without shareholders, we prioritize and reinvest our excess earnings to directly support underserved communities. Through GreenShield Cares, we've committed $75 million to improve the health of over one million Canadians by the end of 2025, focusing on mental health, essential medicines, and chronic disease management. Our scalable initiatives deliver meaningful change in pursuit of Better Health for All. GreenShield is proud to be recognized as one of Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures, a leading Imagine Canada Caring Company, and named on the Fortune's Change the World List.
