Indigenous health-care employees and their family members now have access to culturally connected wellbeing support services through the Saskatchewan health sector’s Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP).

The EFAP administered by 3sHealth provides a variety of voluntary, professional support resources and tools to help health-care employees and their families deal with all sorts of challenges. Now two new services have been introduced as of July 1, 2026, to give employees access to support services from Elders and traditional healers.

These new initiatives created by EFAP service provider TELUS Health include an Indigenous Cognitive Behavioural Program (iCBT) and an Elder and Traditional Healer Support Network program. Like all EFAP services, these tools are always free of charge and completely confidential, paid in advance by your organization to ensure you can get the help you need with total privacy. 

These programs greatly expand the Indigenous-specific supports available through the EFAP and support the health system’s efforts to advance truth and reconciliation.

Indigenous Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Program

The iCBT is a powerful tool for those who may be suffering from anxiety and depression. This innovative program blends Indigenous ways of knowing, like the medicine wheel and seven sacred teachings (also referred to as “grandfather teachings”), with practices used in traditional cognitive behavioural therapy. 

This Internet-based program includes a variety of modalities, including storytelling, videos, and exercises. Participants also access three hours of clinical counselling, provided by licensed master level Indigenous clinicians or allies with experience working with Indigenous populations. Crucially, a 24-hour crisis line is also available.

The program was rigorously designed, clinically supported, and vetted by Indigenous clinical psychologists. Participants can move at their own pace, with access available for a full year after starting the program to continue to access and review materials.

As of July 1, the iCBT tile is available directly on your organization’s TELUS Health One website. All EFAP clients and family members over the age of 16 are eligible. 

Elder and Traditional Healer Support Network

TELUS Health’s second new program gives EFAP users a direct line to nearby community members who can provide them with support.

Available through TELUS Health’s Care Access Centre, potential clients can call 1.833.371.2314 to book a consultation with a care coordinator who will assess their risk level and determine the client’s needs. They are then either connected with an Elder or traditional healer that is part of the support network, or, if the client has a particular provider in mind, they will collect information about the provider and what the scope and intent of the service will be before providing approval.

This service is overseen by an Indigenous social worker with clinical experience.

Expanding the scope of EFAP services

These programs join the wide variety of existing supports already in place through EFAP and TELUS Health. All the services offered aim to help Saskatchewan health-care workers with all manner of issues, from everyday challenges to complex problems.

As with all EFAP services, these Indigenous supports are completely anonymous; no one, including your employer, will ever know that you have used these services unless you choose to tell them. They are also provided free of charge to all EFAP clients and available 24 hours a day.

Check out the EFAP page on 3sHealth’s website to get a better sense of how you can be supported when dealing with a broad range of family, health, money, work, and other issues. Materials provided include everything from videos, expert Q and As, podcasts, and much more.

If you need to access services, please call 1.833.372.2314 at any time.