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October 6, 2025

October Wellness: Understanding Depression & the Blues

As autumn settles in, many of us notice subtle shifts — in the weather, in our routines, and sometimes, in our mood. October is a powerful time to reflect on mental health, especially with World Mental Health Day observed globally on October 10th. This year’s theme reminds us that mental health is a universal human right, and that includes every one of us.

World Mental Health Day is more than a date on the calendar. It’s a global movement to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote access to mental health support. Whether you're thriving, struggling, or somewhere in between, this day is a reminder: your mental health matters.

 What’s the Difference?

  • The Blues: Feeling down, unmotivated, or emotionally flat for a few days is common. These feelings often pass with rest, connection, or a change of scenery.
  • Depression: When those feelings persist for weeks or interfere with daily life, it may be something more. Depression is a medical condition, and it deserves attention and care.

Signs to Look Out For

  • Persistent sadness or emptiness
  • Loss of interest in things once enjoyed
  • Fatigue or sleep changes
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness

If these symptoms resonate with you or someone you know, know that you're not alone. Support is available through our Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), which offers confidential support, counseling, and referrals.

Let’s Normalize the Conversation

Discover how to harness your strengths, express your needs, and build pathways to success by joining Canada Life’s upcoming webinar: Neurodiversity Works – Unlocking the Power of Different Minds in the Workplace. You’ll gain practical tips and strategies to help create inclusive workplaces that support neurodivergent colleagues—either for yourself or your team. The event will be recorded so it can be accessed after the live event on the Workplace Strategies for Mental Health YouTube channel.

Date: October 9, 2025
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EDT

Mental health conversations belong in every workplace. By speaking openly, we help create a culture where vulnerability is met with empathy, and seeking help is seen as a strength. Let’s honor World Mental Health Day by continuing to build a workplace where mental health is prioritized, and kindness is part of our culture.

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September 1, 2025

September Wellness: Back to School, Back to You

September is here and the back-to-school season begins. Some of us are adjusting to new routines, shifting schedules, and the changing pace of fall–post General Council! If you're a parent managing school drop-offs or simply feeling the seasonal shift, September is a great time to refocus.

Reboot Your Routine

The structure of the school year can help you build healthy habits that support your work-life balance:

  • Plan ahead: Prep meals, outfits, and to-do lists to reduce daily stress.
  • Prioritize sleep: A consistent sleep schedule improves focus and mood.
  • Stay active: Take advantage of cooler weather with walks, bike rides, or outdoor breaks.
  • Limit screen time: Set boundaries to help your mind rest and reset.

Working Parents

Balancing work and family during back-to-school season can be challenging. Here are a few tips to support your well-being:

  • Create calm mornings: Prep the night before to reduce morning chaos.
  • Set realistic expectations: Progress over perfection, especially during transitions.
  • Build in “you” time: Even short breaks can help recharge your energy.
  • Talk openly: Encourage conversations with your kids about how they’re feeling.
  • Lean on your support network: Share responsibilities with your partner, family, or community.

Just like learning, wellness is a journey, not a destination, so let’s remember to treat ourselves with the same care and encouragement we give to students starting a new year.

 

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August 5, 2025

August Wellness: Goal Setting with Intention

As summer winds down, August offers a natural moment to pause, reflect, and reset. Whether you're working toward professional development, project goals, or personal growth, setting intentional goals can help you stay focused and energized.

But goal setting doesn’t have to live in separate silos. In fact, aligning your work goals with your personal wellness goals can lead to greater balance, resilience, and satisfaction, both on and off the job.

Here are a few ways to approach goal setting with wellness in mind:

Reconnect with Your Purpose
What motivates you in your role, and in your life? Aligning your goals with your values and strengths can make your work more meaningful and your personal growth more fulfilling.

Set Clear, Achievable Targets
Break larger objectives into smaller, manageable steps. Whether it’s completing a project or committing to a daily walk, small wins build momentum.

Prioritize Well-Being
Consider how your goals support your mental health, energy levels, and work-life balance. A healthier you is a more focused and productive you.

Stay Flexible
Life and work are dynamic. Give yourself permission to adapt your goals as needed. Progress isn’t always linear.

Celebrate Wins—Big and Small
Recognizing your efforts boosts morale and reinforces positive habits. Take time to acknowledge what you’ve accomplished—professionally and personally.

When you log into your GreenShield+ account, you’ll find a variety of tools and resources on the Well-Being page designed to support your health goals. From interactive activities and mini courses (like improving posture—perfect for those of us at a desk all day!) to a personalized health score that helps you track your progress, it’s all there to help you take small, meaningful steps toward better well-being.

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July 30, 2025

Noojimo Health

The Benefits Centre is pleased to share information about new services available to Indigenous staff and ministry personnel. These services will provide culturally appropriate support and guidance, ensuring that Indigenous members of the church have access to resources that reflect their own needs and experiences.

Green Shield Canada is partnering with Noojimo Health, an Indigenous-owned organization, to offer culturally safe and timely virtual mental health services. Noojimo Health is the first all-Indigenous virtual mental wellness clinic for Indigenous people. The following services are delivered by Indigenous registered social workers through virtual sessions and phone calls:

  • Individual counselling
  • Group and family counselling
  • Mental wellness education

The program can be accessed via GreenShield+, under Care Services > Mental Health > Indigenous Mental Health:

Noojimo Health

These services are available at no cost to members. Some individuals may be eligible to receive up to 22 hours of counselling each year through the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program.

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July 16, 2025

2024 Pension Statement - No beneficiaries listed

You should have received your 2024 Pension Statement in the mail these last few weeks. If you have not received your statement and are paid through ADP, please contact them directly to ensure the address on file is correct, then contact pension@united-church.ca to request a duplicate statement.

You will notice that your beneficiaries are not shown on your Annual Pension Statement. Please read the insert provided with your statement that explains why your beneficiaries are not listed. You can also read it here.

This is a standard practice in a transition to a new system. As part of the portal launch process, we will require all members to update their beneficiary information for both the pension and benefit plans (as applicable). Rest assured, the beneficiary information that you have previously provided is in place until such time as the new tool is live and you have confirmed your existing designation(s) or have designated new beneficiaries.

If you have any further questions, please email pension@united-church.ca.

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July 1, 2025

Embracing Self-Care in July — Nurturing Your Mind, Body, and Soul

Whether it’s stepping away from your desk, reading a book, or setting healthy boundaries in your personal life, self-care is about showing up for yourself in meaningful ways—big and small. This July, we’re celebrating the importance of self-care and friendship, with two key dates to mark on your calendar:

  • July 24: International Self-Care Day
  • July 30: International Day of Friendship

Caring for your whole self is essential to living your healthiest life. This includes your mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and practical self-care. Here are some examples – with resources from the GreenShield+ Wellness Hub and WorkHealthLife* – on how you can prioritize you.

*Enter The United Church of Canada to gain access to the site.

Workhealthlife

 

 

 

 

 

Mental Self-Care

Physical Self-Care

Emotional Self-Care

Spiritual Self-Care

Practical Self-Care

This month, let’s commit to nurturing ourselves and those around us, because when we care for ourselves, we’re better equipped to care for others.

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June 3, 2025

How to Read Your 2024 Pension Annual Statement

Annual member statements for the 2024 plan year will be issued to active, deferred, and retired members of the pension plan at the end of June 2025. If you have not received your statement by the first week of July, please contact pension@united-church.ca to ensure the address on file is correct.

Remember that if you have a spouse, they will automatically receive any pre-retirement death benefit as per pension legislation. However, you should also designate a beneficiary in case your spouse predeceases you. If you do not have a spouse and have not designated a beneficiary, your benefit will go to your estate.

If you have not begun receiving your pension, the statement will contain a box that looks something like this:

PA Statement

1THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE EARNED ALREADY – is calculated based on your pensionable earnings and years of credited service.

2YOUR PROJECTED ANNUAL PENSION TO AGE 65 – is an estimate based on the assumption that you continue working in the same job category until you reach age 65. If you stop working before then, or if your pensionable earnings change, this amount will also change.

3MAXIMUM C/QPP BENEFITS – The amount shown as an example on your pension statement is the maximum amount payable under the Canada Pension Plan. Not all Canadians receive the maximum possible payout from the Canada Pension Plan. Please note that the average annual amount of CPP paid to new recipients (at age 65) in 2025 is $10,796.

To determine your personal benefit under the Canada Pension Plan, you can request a Personal Access Code (PAC). You can use this code to register for My Service Canada Account, which will provide access to your personal record of contributions and benefits earned under the Canada Pension Plan.

4MAXIMUM OAS BENEFITS – Old Age Security is a pension you can receive if you are 65 years of age or older and have lived in Canada for at least 10 years. The amount you receive depends on your income and how long you lived in Canada or specific countries after the age of 18. If your net income exceeds an income threshold ($93,454, for 2025) you will have to repay some or all of your OAS pension.

When planning for retirement, all of these sources of income, as well as your personal savings and any pension from previous employers, should be considered. We recommend that you consult with a financial planner to help with the financial aspects of your retirement planning.

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June 1, 2025

Celebrating June: A Month of Diversity, Pride, and Planetary Care

As we step into June, we embrace a month rich with meaning, reflection, and celebration. It’s a time to honor our differences, uplift voices that have been marginalized, and recommit to building a more equitable, and sustainable world.

This month is a reminder of the importance of diversity in all its forms. It’s a time to reflect on how we can create spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Equity is not just a goal—it’s a practice we must embed in our everyday actions and decisions.

Pride 2025

June is also a celebration of the 2S and LGBTQIA+ community’s resilience, creativity, and contributions to society. It’s a time to honor the history of the Pride movement, recognize the ongoing struggles for equality, and stand in solidarity with those advocating for love, dignity, and justice.

World Environment Day

Don’t forget to mark your calendars on June 5 for World Environment Day – a global call to action to protect our planet. This year’s theme emphasizes the urgent need to restore ecosystems and combat climate change. As we celebrate our human diversity, let’s also remember our shared responsibility to care for the Earth, our common home.

Whether it’s attending a Pride event, participating in a sustainability initiative, or learning more about the United Church’s practices (Disability, Accessibility and Inclusion, Gender, Sexuality, and Orientation, and Equity, Accessibility and Privacy) there’s a place for everyone in this journey. Let’s celebrate love in all its forms and continue to push for a world where everyone can live authentically and safely.

Here are a few articles you can check out on GreenShield+:

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May 1, 2025

May: Taking Charge of Your Financial Wellbeing

Feeling stressed about finances? You're not alone. Economic hardships can make managing money feel overwhelming. But there's good news! By assessing your finances and creating a plan to achieve your goals, you can reduce stress and boost your financial wellbeing.

Our Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provides numerous resources on the WorkHealthLife website. Search "The United Church of Canada" to gain access to articles and resources, such as:

Money and your mind: taking care of your finances and mental health

Financial health: how your finances affect your mind

Millennials: Your financial future is now

Mental Health Awareness Month
May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, a perfect time to focus on your overall wellbeing. Here are some important dates to keep in mind:

  • 15th: International Day of Families
  • 17th: International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia

Let's make May a month of empowerment and positive change!

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February 18, 2025

Take part in Pension Awareness Day 2025!

Pension Awareness Day 2025 is on Thursday, February 20, and we are encouraging you to discover the value of a pension. This day is the perfect opportunity to reflect on your retirement planning, stay informed, and take the necessary steps to achieve a more secure financial future for you and your family 

What is Pension Awareness Day? 

Pension Awareness Day is a time to raise awareness about the value of pension savings, the many benefits your pension plan offers, and the need to develop a retirement plan as early as possible.  

The value of a pension 

A pension plan is designed to provide income after retirement, so you won’t have to rely solely on government benefits like the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS), which may not be enough to cover all your expenses. 

Employees of The United Church of Canada (UCC) who work an average of 14 or more hours per week, contribute to a Defined Benefit plan.  

With the rising cost of living and longer life expectancies, government pensions may not be enough to cover all your retirement expenses. In 2024, the average Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefit at 65 was $805 per month (with a maximum of $1,364.60), and the maximum Old Age Security (OAS) benefit was $725 per month, rising at age 75 to $800 per month. 

Tools and Resources 

Check out our pension tools and resources to learn more about:  

From the Government of Canada:

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Join our webinars on ChurchX to delve deep into retirement planning and your pension plan benefits: 

Pension Information Seminar

Boundaries Refresher: Retiring with Grace (for ministry personnel only)

We’re here if you need us

Get answers to your pension or benefits questions and find out how to get in touch with us.

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