Wiegers Financial & Benefits is one of the largest private financial planning and employee benefits consulting firms in Saskatchewan. Its Saskatoon Financial Planning Division provides business owners, households, retirees, and students with expert investment and insurance planning services to help them reach their long-term financial goals. They also have a Benefits and Personal Insurance planning division. In this latest Wiegers Financial tip they share information and advice for business owners. Wiegers Financial Benefits are Trusted Saskatoon Financial Advisors and Trusted Saskatoon Insurance and Group Benefits experts
What Mental Health Is and Why It Can’t Be Ignored
Most of us have heard – probably more than a few times – that if you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything. There’s no denying the truth of that but increasingly, and all the more during the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s an understanding that mental health is just as important and impactful as physical health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines positive mental health as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community” (WHO, 2001, p. 1). Clearly, we all strive for this – or at least should be – but not all of us are mentally well, all of the time. Indeed, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) reports[1] that:
- Mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some time through a family member, friend, or colleague.
- In any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness.
- Mental illness affects people of all ages, education, income levels, and cultures.
- Approximately 8% of adults will experience major depression at some time in their lives.
About 1% of Canadians will experience bipolar disorder (or “manic depression”).
What’s more, though final numbers aren’t yet available, Fardous Hosseiny, the National Director of Research and Policy at the CMHA predicted that by 2020, depression would be the leading cause of disability in Canada (preliminary indications are that Mr. Hosseiny was correct). Even more staggering is that approximately 1.6 million people continue to have their mental illness needs unmet. As Mr. Hosseiny explains, “Mental illnesses are episodic, but the key is that if it’s untreated, that’s when it’s really disruptive. We know that untreated mental illnesses are only exasperated with time.” Given the number of people not being helped, Mr. Hosseiny suspects that the number of Canadians who suffer from mental illness each year is even higher than what research shows (1 in 4 Canadians as opposed to 1 in 5), and that the availability of support systems – or lack thereof – plays a major role.
[2] Clearly, something needs to be done.
Your Group Benefits Plan Can Be a Terrific Support to Your Employees and Their Mental Health.
Here’s How.
My team and I have been promoting the importance of mental health and mental health supports in group benefit plans for many years – long before the stigma surrounding mental illness started to decay. One of the most effective tools available is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which can be added to a traditional group benefits plan. Though the number of EAP providers is higher than ever, and the number of options available is ever-increasing, most EAPs provide, at minimum, confidential short-term counselling to employees and their spouses and dependent children, as well as referrals and other forms of support designed to help bolster mental health.
Other options include a robust Health benefits plan that provides coverage for mostly physical concerns, knowing that when an individual cannot afford to pay for a health product or service, his or her mental health can be severely impacted as a result. The same idea is behind Wellness and Health Spending Accounts. Providing your employees with healthcare dollars to spend as they need or choose to do helps reduce or even eliminate the financial concern that might otherwise present a barrier to their getting the help and support they need.
The Business Case for Mental Health Supports in Benefits
Aside from the obvious compassionate reasons for providing mental health supports at and through work, there’s a strong business case for it too. The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) estimates that the total cost to Canada’s economy incurred by mental health problems and illnesses is well over $50 billion annually or nearly $1,400 for every person living in Canada in 2016. This includes significant employer costs due to absenteeism, presenteeism, and employee turnover.[3] And it makes sense. Healthier, happier employees tend to be more productive than their less healthy, less happy colleagues so investing in your employees’ mental health helps you – and your business – too.
It’s a wonderful thing that awareness and acceptance of the need to protect and care for mental health is finally on an upswing, and the fact that employers can do so much for their employees’ mental health carries exponential benefit for everyone involved, including the employers themselves (given the positive impact on their businesses). As cliché as it might sound, benefits really are an investment in your team, and there’s never been a greater need than now for the mental health supports they provide.
Wiegers Financial & Benefits is one of the largest private financial planning and employee benefits consulting firms in Saskatchewan. Its Saskatoon Financial Planning Division provides business owners, households, retirees, and students with expert investment and insurance planning services to help them reach their long-term financial goals. They also have a Benefits and Personal Insurance planning division. In this latest Wiegers Financial tip we share about their massive community support efforts. Wiegers Financial Benefits are Trusted Saskatoon Financial Advisors and Trusted Saskatoon Insurance and Group Benefits experts
Wiegers Financial & Benefits are committed to supporting our communities.
With deep roots in Saskatchewan and endless gratitude for the opportunities and success it affords, the Wiegers Financial & Benefits team – led by Cliff and Deb Wiegers – are committed to helping grow our local community stronger. The team’s philanthropic focus is on helping local children’s charities through their in-house charity, Wiegers Care for Kids. But, their community involvement reach is much broader than that. And, with ever-growing community involvement goals, Wiegers Financial & Benefits’ commitment to helping strengthen and grow our local community is steadfast.
They view their role in and responsibility to the community in two important and related ways. First, they are in the very fortunate position of being able to effectively propagate widespread awareness about important issues and causes in our community. With 35 community-minded individuals on their team and a long-term client base of thousands of people – each of whom has his or her own network of friends and family – they have the power to help ensure that more people are made aware of important issues and causes than would otherwise be the case. Second, they contribute to and help raise money for the specific causes and events they feel most passionate about. With a broad network of clients, professional associates, friends and family, they have a very wide network of people to approach for both cash and in-kind donations, as well as other forms of support. Wiegers aim not only to help their clients lead healthier and happier lives but to help the rest of our community to do so too. By raising awareness and money for local charities, they believe that we are making a positive difference
Here are just a few of their community involvement awards, fundraisers, and other community events and related activities:
- Wiegers Care for Kids- Bi annual gala.
- Financial literacy presentations throughout Saskatoon
- Office fundraisers for a variety of causes
- 2016 SABEXCommunity Involvement Award Recipient
- 2016 NSBACommunity Builder Award Recipient
- 2016 ABEXCommunity Involvement Award Finalist
- 2014 SABEXCommunity Involvement Award Recipient
- 2014 ABEXCommunity Involvement Award Finalist
- 2014 NSBACommunity Builder Award Finalist
The Trusted Saskatoon directory team are thrilled to welcome Wiegers Financial & Benefits to the Trusted Saskatoon community. You will find their listing in the Saskatoon Financial Services and Saskatoon Insurance categories on the Saskatoon directory you can Trust.
It's easy to brag about Wiegers Financial & Benefits!
Established 25 years ago by Cliff and Deb Wiegers, the company grew from humble beginnings to a level of success that puts it on par with some of the largest financial planning companies in Canada!
Their approach to working with clients is personal and they are dedicated and committed to getting to know their clients and what they want and need, both at the beginning of the working relationship and as their personal and professional lives change or as their businesses evolve. This commitment is reflected in a process that involves regular contact and a client/advisor relationship that is both comfortable, familiar and special in an industry not often associated with warmth!
Award Winning Community supporters!
Wiegers Care for Kids actively fundraises year-round and has already hosted five major fundraising events, raising over $800,000 for the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital
Wiegers Financial & Benefits came highly recommended.
Many of the Trusted Saskatoon partners are already long-standing clients of Wiegers Financial & Benefits, in fact, they were nominated by Trusted Saskatoon Salon owners, Laddie & Shelley James of Hairstyle Inn Salons - that in itself is a great testament to the high standards and level of care that the Wiegers team bring to the table!
Don't take our word for it - hear from more of their happy clients here!
"The people at Wiegers take care of me personally as well as the group benefits at Reed Security. They're helpful, friendly and always offer a variety of options. I'm also impressed with their community values and the huge dollar amounts they continue to raise for the Children's Hospital. They care!" Virgil Reed, Reed Security, Trusted Saskatoon Alarm & Security Professionals.
"My wife and I have been accessing investment advice, long-term planning and portfolio management from Wiegers and company for several years. I have found the services to be personalized and tailored to the needs that we have, which wouldn't be the same for people of a different age. Attention is paid to our financial circumstances and our advisor, which in our case is Cliff Wiegers, keeps in touch personally or through others at the company. You have more confidence that people are taking care of the financial affairs under their watch in a careful way when you know that they do not resent making personal contact and obviously see it as an important part of making sure that they understand your needs. They take the time to discuss things which is not always case with service providers. Whether times for investment are good or bad, the need exists for competent guidance and we have received that. It is good to deal with a local company that is also linked in with large financial organizations which offer a range of products that may fit the particular client. I have appreciated the personalized service and attention we receive from the company." Eric Cline, Saskatoon
We are proud to promote and give the thumbs up to Wiegers Financial & Benefits as Trusted Saskatoon Financial and Insurance advisors!
Check out their listing on the Saskatoon Directory of Excellence by clicking on the links below:
