Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)

The EFAP is a free and confidential service offering short-term counselling and referral services. Your EFAP can be accessed 24/7 by phone, web or mobile app. Upon contacting the EFAP, an appointment with a qualified professional will be given to you within 24 hours and a consultation should take place within 3 to 5 business days of your initial call. If your situation requires immediate support, your call will be directed to a qualified professional who can provide counselling over the phone.

Note that if you have preferences for a counsellor (language, gender, specific ethnic background, or expertise in a specific field), inform the Care Access Centre Representative when you first call. It is important to note that for specific preferences, counselling may be available virtually only and employees may experience a longer than usual wait time to have an appointment. If the delay to obtain an appointment is greater than 10 business days, contact them again or send an email to benefits [at] mcgill.ca if you would like us to follow up with our representative on your behalf.

Our EFAP provider, TELUS Health (formerly LifeWorks), provides you with direct access to qualified and experienced professionals from different fields (psychology, social work, educational counselling) who are accredited by their respective professional associations.

All services provided by the EFAP are confidential and anonymous, within the limits of the law. The University only receives quarterly reports regarding the use being made of the program and will never know that you have used the services unless you choose to share that information.

Your EFAP includes up to 6 sessions of counselling per issue. If long-term or specialized counselling is required, the counsellor will assist you with a referral to another resource within the community. Consultation with this resource may involve a fee. Consult the McGill Supplemental Health Plan for information about coverage for psychological services.

This program is available to regular staff members* who are members of the McGill University benefits program, their spouse and dependent children. The services of the EFAP are provided by the University as part of your Benefits program. You can invite your dependents to access certain features in Telus Health One as a means to find confidential help and advice on hundreds of topics. Eligibility for this program does not continue post-retirement.

Eligible members and their family also have access to the TELUS Health One platform and mobile app. The platform offers several tools and content related to mental, physical, social and financial well-being.