Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program – Time to CHAT?

October 12, 2021 -  Defence Stories

Health Canada’s Employee Assistance Services (EAS) is pleased to announce that a Chat Service will be available for CFMAP (Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program) on Canada.ca at no additional cost to organizations starting September 1, 2021. Members and immediate family will be able to access the Chat Service to contact the Member Assistance Program (MAP) to set up a referral to a mental health professional. EAS is committed to enhancing access to the MAP, and the Chat option supports this goal. Chat is for setting up MAP services only, and not a way to get immediate counselling.

Please note: Chat is only for making an appointment with a mental health professional, not a way to get immediate counselling.

We will be offering this new feature in phases to our EAS Customers, and have selected your organization to be part of Phase 1.

Below are some details about the Chat Service:  

• Accessing the Chat: From a computer, tablet or mobile device with internet access - visit Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Chat , select the department, enter the password: canada. Should the client not have the password, they can request it on the website
• Who responds to the Chat: EAS Mental Health Professionals from the Crisis and Referral Centre
• Available Times: Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (EDT), excluding statutory holidays.
• Confidentiality and Security: The Chat Service uses secure encryption. Clients must provide their name and phone number for referral purposes, but the entire chat discussion is automatically deleted when the chat window is closed. A request to obtain counselling is confidential, whether the contact is Chat or telephone. With both options, the communication is live with a mental health professional.
• Situations requiring immediate assistance: Contact the MAP (available 24/7) at 1-800-268-7708 / TTY  1-800-567-5803. The MAP Chat Service is only for making an appointment with a mental health professional, not a way to get immediate counselling.
• Feedback: A confidential and anonymous survey is provided at the time of the chat to provide feedback on the service. (Availability could be affected by election rules and will be reactivated when the new government is sworn in).
• Cost: There are no additional fees for this service.

Chat Service on Canada.ca: a new way to contact the Member Assistance Program

The Member Assistance Program (MAP) offers you and your immediate family free, short-term psychological support with a mental health professional. Whether you have personal or work-related concerns, the MAP is there for you.

You now have two ways to contact the MAP to get a referral to a mental health professional:

• By phone at 1-800-268-7708 (TTY: 1-800-567-5803 for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing), 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• By online chat at Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Chat using any device with an internet connection (password: canada), available Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Eastern time), excluding statutory holidays

Remember, when you contact the MAP, you are always communicating confidentially and in real time with a mental health professional.

Note: The Chat Service is only for making an appointment with a mental health professional, not for immediate counselling. For immediate support, call the Crisis and Referral Centre at 1-800-268-7708 (TTY: 1-800-567-5803 for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing). For workplace advisory and trauma services.