Employee and family assistance program
EFAP is a confidential program that includes professional counselling, information and referral services.
Emergency counselling
If you are experiencing an emergency or crisis and require immediate counselling services, phone 1-844-880-9142 to speak to a crisis counsellor.
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All of us, on a daily basis, juggle different areas of our lives: work, children, partners, hobbies. Sometimes we all need a little help to get us through the challenges of daily life.
UVic staff and faculty and dependents can find support through our employee and family assistance program (EFAP). This program is designed to provide information, advice and support as you navigate many of life’s challenges and milestones. EFAP is a confidential program that includes professional counselling, information and referral services. UVic’s EFAP provider, TELUS Health, is committed to equity, dignity and inclusion. TELUS Health employs counsellors who have experience supporting people from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.
Solutions for your work, health and life
Our EFAP service catalogue includes a number of programs to support you through the challenges of daily life. Topics include:
- Achieve well-being
- Manage relationships and family
- Deal with workplace challenges
- Tackle Addictions
- Find child and elder care resources
- Get legal advice
- Receive financial guidance
- Improve nutrition
- Focus on your physical health
How do I access EFAP?
Access EFAP by phone, web or mobile app. For telephone, e-counselling and in-person counselling: 1-844-880-9142.
What to expect when phoning for EFAP services
Select one of the following options:
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- Option 1 for individual urgent or crisis assistance
- Option 2 for standard appointment booking or re-booking
- Option 3 for Critical Incident Response (Groups)
- You will be asked a series of questions for the purposes of matching your situation to the right service and security/privacy assurance (such as your mother’s maiden name or date of birth)
- For safety reasons, every caller will be asked a question assessing the possible risk of harm to themselves or others at the beginning of the call.
- Please note: the range of choices and/or the timeliness of these choices may be affected by the nature of the counselling issue, your location, the scheduling availability of the caller, and other caller preferences.
What is the cost?
This is a 100 per cent employer covered benefit for eligible employees and their dependents.
The EFAP benefit covers the cost of short-term counseling sessions. If longer term or more specialized counseling is required, you will be referred to a community resource that you can afford.
For further details, please contact the Benefits Office or TELUS Health.
Frequently asked questions
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.
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Short-term Professional Counselling provides support for personal and emotional issues.
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Specialized Counselling and Online Programs to assist with career challenges, managing stress, and more.
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Family Support Services provides access to child and eldercare resources.
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Naturopathic Services provide consultation with Naturopathic Doctors.
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Legal Support Services provide consultation with professional lawyers to answer legal questions.
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Nutritional Services offer consultation with Registered Dieticians on any nutritional matter or concern.
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Financial Support Services provide consultation with financial professionals to answer financial questions.
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Health Coaching by Registered Nurses can provide information and advice.
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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.
Your spouse, children and dependent parents are eligible to receive coverage under your EFAP.
Your coverage continues during your employment with the University.
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.
Access your EFAP through TELUS Health, 24/7:
Call: 1-844-880-9142
Mobile: Download the TELUS Health app on your mobile device app store
