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Questions? Email wellness@amans.ca or call 902-717-1885

municipal wellness program

Employee physical health is crucial for a thriving and productive workforce. The wellbeing of municipal employees and elected officials is linked to their physical health. It encompasses more than just the absence of illness; it embodies the energy, resilience, and strength that employees bring to their roles each day.

In this section, you will find various resources and tools that promote physical health in 5 dimensions:  smoking cessation, active living, healthier eating, sleep, and alcohol and other drug use. A healthy workforce not only enjoys reduced absenteeism and healthcare costs but also exhibits higher engagement, productivity, and overall satisfaction, contributing to a more resilient and successful organization.

Smoking Cessation 

Embarking on the journey towards a smoke-free life is a transformative and empowering decision. In today's workplaces, supporting employees in their quest to quit smoking is not just a gesture of goodwill; it's a fundamental investment in their health and well-being. This section provides a number of evidence-informed smoking cessation resources available to municipal employees and elected officials across Nova Scotia. From counselling services to nicotine replacement therapies and tailored cessation programs, these resources aim to provide the necessary support and guidance to individuals seeking to break free from the grip of tobacco addiction. By prioritizing smoking cessation initiatives, organizations demonstrate their commitment to fostering healthier lifestyles among employees, leading to a more vibrant, productive, and resilient workforce.

Here is everything you need for personalized and non-judgmental support to help you quit and stay quit. All services are free and confidential and include a quit line, text-based and online chat with counsellors.

cigarettes
  1. How To Quit Smoking: 7 Ways to Kick the Habit (clevelandclinic.org)
  2. Quit smoking Quit-smoking basics - Mayo Clinic
  3. Smoke Free Curious
  4. Smoking Cessation
  5. Your Journey to a Tobacco-free Life Starts Here

APPs

Quit smoking apps for iPhone and Android devices that can help you track your progress through your mobile device. Examples include:

  • Craving to Quit
  • LIVESTRONG MY Quit Coach
  • Qwit
  • Quit Pro  

Please be sure to check your NSFM Health and Benefits program to see if you are eligible for smoking cessation aids. 

Your TELUS EAP Program provides a FREE self-paced, personalized and interactive Smoking Cessation Program. You can find this program under Work Life Services - Health and Well-Being on your app or online. Call 1-844-880-9142 or check it out online - TELUS Health One - NSFM  or on your app. 

pdf Check out this comprehensive list of tobacco-free resources across Nova Scotia (174 KB)

Active Living 

Active living plays a pivotal role in enhancing both physical and mental well-being. It promotes a healthier lifestyle by reducing the risk of chronic diseases, improving cardiovascular health, boosting mood and mental clarity, enhancing overall energy levels, and fostering better sleep patterns. Additionally, it encourages stronger social connections and productivity, contributing to a more fulfilling and balanced life.

Here is everything you need for evidence-informed resources and tools to inspire and support your active living journey. 

  1. Organization / Program Search (cioc.ca) - Connect NS - Find recreational activities in your community 
  2. 24-Hour Movement Guidelines – Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines (csepguidelines.ca)
  3. Beginning Exercise: Best Way To Start Working Out (clevelandclinic.org)
  4. Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity - Mayo Clinic
  5. ParticipACTION - Home
  6. Physical Activity - Canada.ca

APPs

Active Living apps for iPhone and Android devices can help you track your progress through your mobile device. Examples include:

  • 8ft
  • FitOn
  • Jefit
  • The Johnson & Johnson Official 7 Minute Workout
  • Strava 

Your TELUS EAP Program provides a FREE self-paced, personalized and interactive program called LIFT. It provides a full suite of FREE fitness offerings that make working out exciting, easy, and efficient. It’s like working out at your preferred gym or studio without ever stepping outside your home or office setting. It offers custom programs created by certified experts to help you reach your goals, and live chat with experienced fitness professionals to help you every step of the way. Get started today with TELUSHealth - LIFT 

Healthier Eating

Nutritional health is the foundation of overall well-being, and influences employees' vitality and performance. The food choices individuals make daily have a profound impact not only on their physical health but also on their mental acuity and productivity. This section offers evidence-informed educational resources, and wellness programs that empower individuals to make informed and healthier dietary choices. By fostering a culture that values and supports nutritional health, organizations lay the groundwork for a workforce that thrives, excels, and enjoys improved overall wellness.

Here is everything you need for evidence-informed resources and tools for healthier eating.

  1. Canada's Food Guide
  2. Dietitians of Canada
  3. How Many Calories Should You Eat In A Day? (clevelandclinic.org)
  4. Nutrition and healthy eating Nutrition basics - Mayo Clinic
  5. Unlock Food

APPs

Active Living apps for iPhone and Android devices can help you track your progress through your mobile device. Examples include:

  • Fooducate
  • Lifesum
  • Mealime Meal Plans & Recipes
  • My FitnessPal
  • Nutrition Coach

Please be sure to check your NSFM Health and Benefits program to see if you have extended health benefits that cover Weight Loss Treatment and Dietician Services.

Your TELUS EAP Program provides a FREE self-paced, personalized and interactive Eating for Health Online Program. You can find this program under Work Life Services - Health and Well-Being on your app or online. Call 1-844-880-9142 or check it out online - TELUS Health One - NSFM  or on your app.  

Sleep

In this post-pandemic world with economic, social and climate issues, the significance of promoting healthy sleep patterns among municipal employees and elected officials cannot be overstated. Sleep is key for physical and mental health, and impacts productivity, focus, and overall wellbeing. In this section, you will learn the critical role that prioritizing healthy sleep habits plays within the workplace. You'll explore evidence-informed strategies, policies, and educational initiatives aimed at fostering better sleep hygiene. The benefits are clear—enhanced cognitive function, improved mood, reduced absenteeism, and heightened creativity. By embracing and advocating for healthy sleep practices, organizations not only nurture a culture of well-being but also lay the groundwork for a more vibrant, engaged, and resilient employee population.

Here is everything you need for evidence-informed resources and tools for a better night's sleep:

  1. Canadian Sleep Society(css-scs.ca)
  2. Sleep tips: 6 steps to better sleep - Mayo Clinic
  3. Sleepwell (mysleepwell.ca)
  4. Sleep: What It Is, Why It’s Important, Stages, REM & NREM (clevelandclinic.org)
  5. Why sleep? - SLEEP ON IT! 

APPs

Sleep apps for iPhone and Android devices that can help you track your progress through your mobile device. Examples include:

  • Calm
  • Headspace
  • Sleep Reset

Alcohol & Other Drug Use

Substance misuse issues can affect anyone. This section offers evidence-informed resources, support and guidance for municipal employees and elected officials who may be concerned about their own or a loved one's misuse of alcohol and/or drugs.  These resources not only promote employee health and wellbeing but also contribute significantly to maintaining a safer work environment, reducing absenteeism, enhancing productivity, and fostering a culture of care and support within municipalities. Embracing and implementing alcohol and other drug use workplace programs marks a proactive step towards ensuring the holistic health and success of both employees and the organization as a whole.

Here is everything you need for evidence-informed resources and tools to help you manage substance use issues. 

  1. Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health | Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (ccsa.ca)
  2. Get help with substance use - Canada.ca
  3. mha.nshealth.ca/en/services/stop-smoking-program
  4. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health | CAMH 

Please be sure to check your NSFM Health and Benefits program to see if you are eligible for a psychologist, psychotherapist, or social worker through the Extended Health Benefits Program. 

Your TELUS EAP Program provides FREE access to short-term counselling which can support you to find long-term specialized care or support you if you are living with or are concerned about a loved one's use of alcohol and/or other drugs.  You can find this service under Get Support on your app or online. Call 1-844-880-9142 or check it out online - TELUS Health One - NSFM  or on your app.