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Mental Health
Midwifery is remarkable work which empowers women, champions reproductive rights and allows you to use your hands, your head and your heart. But it’s tough work too. Research shows that midwives are at a considerable risk of work-related stress, burnout and mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety.
We also know that long-term disability leaves due to mental health are unusually high among midwives as compared to other groups. AOMBT’s incidence of mental health claims in Long-Term Disability is 26% above comparable groups of our size and profession.
We encourage you to prioritize your wellbeing to the greatest extent possible.
If you’re feeling resilient, take the time to explore the wellness supports available to you that relate to nutrition, sleep, exercise and mindfulness.
If you are grappling with a stressful life event, feeling burnt out, or facing a significant mental health concern, there are supports to help you through it.
Important note: SSQ Insurance changed their name to Beneva officially in January 2023. Some of the information on our website, forms, and documents, may still refer to SSQ during the transition. Coverage under your existing plan, your benefits card, policy and certificate number will all remain the same, as will the usual lines of communication. You can log into the new Beneva Client Centre and the Beneva app, with the same email address and password you used for SSQ, and submit claims as before.
Dialogue
All Dialogue programs are available to all midwives and eligible dependents.
Dialogue Virtual Care gives you access to health care professionals via a mobile or web app. Approximately 70-80% of non-urgent medical issues for which you would visit a walk-in clinic can be treated virtually via Dialogue.
Dialogue’s primary care service (or telemedicine) gives you access to a multidisciplinary medical team composed of nurse clinicians and nurse practitioners, physicians, care coordinators for consultations related to any health issue or problem that can be safely assessed without a physical exam.
- Unlimited virtual medical care 24/7, with same-day consultations available
- Video-based medical consultations at a convenient time and location save patients unnecessary commute and wait time at a walk-in clinic
- Support for a wide variety of issues including, but not limited to: dermatology, sexual health, allergies, sinusitis and more
- Personalized follow-ups after every consultation to ensure medical recommendations are followed, and next steps are booked if needed
- Consultations with other allied health professionals (e.g. nutritionists) for an additional fee that may be covered by your insurance
Dialogue reduces barriers to top medical care with fast, real-time access via chat, phone or video to a multidisciplinary medical team to help treat non-urgent health concerns.
You also have access to the Dialogue's Wellness Program, an online resource which allows you to empower yourself, challenge yourself, and adopt healthy habits by providing:
- An extensive content library covering a range of well-being topics to help with daily stress management, back & neck pain, better sleep, daily activity movement, and more!
- Monthly fitness & wellness challenges with integration to connected devices and applications (e.g. Apple Health, Fitbit, Garmin, Strava).
- Personalized Healthy Habits collections designed to support and track your wellness goals including managing stress, sleeping better, and moving more.
- Weekly Active Minutes tracker to encourage daily movement throughout the day and achieve the recommended 150 minutes of weekly physical activity to reduce the risk of future chronic conditions.
Engaging with wellness—taking small daily actions and building habits—has proven to ensure people live happier and healthier lives.
Log in to the Dialogue app and head to the move tab to find out more.
The Dialogue Mental Health+ program can help you deal with stress, with 24/7 support and preventative health coaching, webinars and wellness tips and free psychotherapy sessions as needed, prescriptions, and medical treatment.
Mental health is a big challenge. It doesn't need to be. With Dialogue, easily access mental health support, regardless of your specific issue or care preference.
Stress, anxiety, and depression affect everyone differently—there is no one-size-fits-all program! With a variety of mental health services, you can access every day, being proactive about your well-being doesn’t have to be challenging.
Check out the resources available to you:
Stress test—available 24/7
At any time, simply open the Dialogue app and take a quick stress test! We encourage everyone to do this, as often as you feel it's needed.
Self-care toolkits—available 24/7
Whether you’re actively dealing with one of life’s challenges or simply looking to stay mentally fit, these toolkits are designed to help you better manage everyday negative feelings.
Virtual coaching or therapy—by appointment
Speak with a mental health specialist for whatever is on your mind. Dialogue is here to understand the root of your issue and get you on the right path to recovery.
➜ Learn more about Dialogue’s Mental Health+ program.
Dialogue also offers crisis intervention assistance.
Dialogue ensures that you are nurtured throughout every step of your care experience. From a case manager coordinating consultations to scheduling follow-up appointments with the same physician, mental health specialist or psychotherapist, Dialogue supports you through the length of your customized care plan.
Download the Dialogue app on your smartphone or access it online. Check the Ultimate Guide to Using Dialogue for answers to all your questions.
Dialogue is supported by a from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
If you are grappling with a stressful life event, feeling burnt out, or facing a significant mental health concern, there are supports to help you through it.
Mental health coverage
Coverage is available to you and your dependents through Beneva to assist with the cost of health care services that OHIP does not cover, such as psychologists, psychotherapists, or social workers/counsellors. Provided by Beneva at 80% reimbursement, up to $1,500 annually.
Member & Family Assistance Program (MFAP)
Your MFAP offers one-on-one virtual counselling, including financial or legal counselling.
Genex
If you are considering a short-term or long-term disability leave or are currently on disability leave, Genex will provide you with disability nurse case manager to support you in your journey. Please contact AOMBT for more information about this service.
Free Ontario-Based Resources
BounceBack
A free skill-building program managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). It is designed to help adults and youth 15+ manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, and anxiety, stress or worry. Delivered over the phone with a coach and through online videos, you will get access to tools that support you on your path to mental wellness.
MindBeacon
Free articles, resources, and videos created by licensed therapists to support mental health.
Connex
ConnexONtario provides treatment service information if you have problems with gambling, drugs, alcohol, or mental health.
Call toll free: 1-866-531-2600
Live web chat
Indigenous Supports
Hope for Wellness Helpline
Immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention for all Indigenous peoples across Canada (available in some Indigenous languages) Toll free 1-855-242-3310 or live web chat
Talk4Healing
Indigenous women can get help, support, and resources 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, with services in 14 languages.
Toll free or text: 1-855-554-4325 or live web chat
AOM Supports
The Association of Ontario Midwives also has resources to support your mental health.
AOM On Call is a confidential resource for midwives who seek support for concerns arising from practice for which legal, ethical or practice-related advice is required. Non-urgent concerns are answered during business hours; however, the AOM On Call team is also available 24/7 for urgent risk management concerns.
The AOM also has an online resource of mental health information and supports for midwives, including topics such as work-life balance, hospital integration issues, secondary trauma, and more.
If you or someone you care about is in mental distress and need immediate care, you should immediately call 911, a distress line or go to your nearest emergency room. There are people ready to support you.
Distress and Crisis Ontario
Call, text, or message online
For support over text, text SUPPORT to 258258