Mental health is now the leading cause of workplace disability in Canada, surpassing musculoskeletal issues for the first time. That shift is significant, and most organizations aren’t prepared for what it means for their benefits strategy, their teams, or their bottom line.

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) were designed to help with exactly this. But for many organizations, the EAP is one of the most underused benefits in the entire package. Employees don’t know it exists, leaders don’t know how to talk about it, and the result is a tool that’s sitting unused while mental health claims quietly climb.

That’s what this webinar is about. On May 6, Quinn Advisory Group is hosting a free one-hour session during Canadian Mental Health Week called Unlocking the Power of EAPs: A Strategic Asset for Employee Well-being.

If you’re responsible for your organization’s people strategy, this one is worth an hour of your time. Register for free here.

Why EAPs Are Worth a Closer Look Right Now

Most leaders know their organization has an EAP. Far fewer can explain what it covers, how employees access it, or how it connects to the rest of the benefits plan. That gap matters more than ever given where mental health sits in the disability landscape today.

A well-used EAP doesn’t just support employees through difficult moments. It reduces absenteeism, shortens claims durations, and takes pressure off extended health benefits by addressing challenges before they escalate. The organizations seeing the most value from their EAP are the ones that treat it as a strategic part of their benefits program rather than a checkbox at renewal.

The problem is that most leaders were never given the tools to do that. This session is designed to change that.

What You’ll Walk Away With

Presented by Tara Adams, Founder of Abridge Consulting and a trusted educator in workplace mental health, this practical session covers the things leaders need to know about EAPs, without the jargon.

Here’s what’s on the agenda:

• What EAPs really offer and where the gap is between what’s available and what employees think is available
• How to communicate EAP services effectively so your team knows how and when to use them
• How EAPs complement extended health benefits and help reduce unnecessary claims
• Common misconceptions that quietly reduce utilization across organizations
• Cost-containment opportunities most employers are leaving on the table
• Claims trends and data-driven insights worth watching as a leader

This session is the second in a four-part mental health leadership series, so there’s a lot more to come. But even as a standalone, you’ll leave with clear, practical knowledge you can put to work right away. Grab your free spot here.

Who Should Be in the Room

This session is designed for people who have a stake in how their organization supports its employees. That includes:

• HR professionals and benefits decision-makers
• People managers and team leads
• Business owners and organizational leaders
• Anyone responsible for retention, culture, or workplace well-being

The session runs Wednesday, May 6 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM MT and is eligible for CPHR continuing education credits, which is worth noting if you’re keeping your designation current.

A Note on the Timing

Mental Health Awareness Month runs through May, and Canadian Mental Health Week falls right around this session. There’s no better time to take stock of what your organization has in place to support employee mental health and whether it’s working the way it should.

EAPs are one of the most cost-effective tools available for supporting mental health in the workplace. The organizations that use them well tend to see real results: better engagement, lower claims, and teams that feel supported rather than stretched thin.

This session will show you how to get there. Spots are free and space is limited. Register now to join Quinn Advisory Group and Tara Adams on May 6 for what promises to be one of the most practical mental health sessions available to Canadian leaders this year.