Sun Life is further expanding its support for humanitarian and resettlement efforts in Ukraine with an additional $200,000 donated to the Canadian Red Cross and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
The insurer’s total donations towards Ukraine's humanitarian efforts now total more than $1.1 million, Sun Life revealed in a release.
"Our hearts go out to the people of Ukraine, and everyone affected by this brutal invasion and war. We remain deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis in the region and the ongoing threat to global peace and stability," said Sun Life Canada president Jacques Goulet. "Together with the global community, we feel a sense of compassion and empathy for the courage and resilience that people living in Ukraine have shown. We hope that our additional donation will help the people of Ukraine affected by this crisis."
In addition to the donations, Sun Life announced that it will provide free access to self-guided therapy to all Canadians struggling with mental health issues. The services are being offered in partnership with Dialogue Health Technologies, a telehealth company that provides a virtual care platform of which Sun Life is a leading investor.
The virtual mental health service offers a set of toolkits to help those with negative feelings like stress and anxiety. After a short quiz, users can access resources like meditation exercises, practical tips, and more. The platform also offers online cognitive behavioural therapy, which is available 24/7 and can be accessed anywhere with an internet connection.
"We also recognize the mental and emotional toll that the invasion of Ukraine has had on people, coupled with the stress of navigating the COVID-19 pandemic for the past two years," said Sun Life Health president Dave Jones. "If you are struggling with stress or anxiety beyond your control, we encourage you to seek the support you need to get better. There are resources available to help."
"Online cognitive behavioural therapy is a clinically proven and effective treatment option to help people get through life's difficult moments," added Dialogue CEO Cherif Habib. "Together with Sun Life, we are investing in mental health support to help thousands living in Canada over the next few months."
