Construction Safety Nova Scotia (CSNS) and MERIT Nova Scotia have launched Anchor Point, a new Member Assistance Program (MAP) designed to enhance mental health and wellness supports for workers in Nova Scotia’s construction industry.
Delivered through the GreenShield+ digital health platform, Anchor Point provides construction workers and their families with confidential access to professional mental health and wellness services. These services are offered free of charge to construction workers who do not already have access to an Employee or Member Assistance Program through their employer. CSNS says the program is available anytime, anywhere, ensuring that help is accessible when and where it is needed most.
“The mental health of workers is a critical component of workplace safety,” said MJ MacDonald, CEO of CSNS. “Through Anchor Point and our partnership with MERIT Nova Scotia, we are ensuring that every worker, regardless of company size, has access to the resources and support they need.”
The development of the program stems from the findings of CSNS’s Creating Mentally Healthy Workplacesstudy, which identified a strong link between working conditions and mental health outcomes in the sector. The report emphasized the need for expanded access to mental health resources and stronger workplace cultures of support.
“We’re proud to partner with Construction Safety Nova Scotia to launch Anchor Point, a program that fills a vital gap in our industry,” stated Paul Dubé, president of MERIT Nova Scotia. “Many construction workers, particularly those in smaller companies, don’t have access to mental health benefits. This partnership ensures those workers and their families can get the help they need, when they need it.”
The launch of Anchor Point complements CSNS’s broader mental health strategy, which includes such initiatives as Mental Health Toolbox Talks, and a suite of new mental-health-related training programs set to launch this fall.
For more information about Anchor Point, including how to access services, visit www.constructionsafetyns.ca/anchorpoint.
